Lake County, IN DUI Attorneys 

Helping Citizens of Lake County, IN, Defend against their DUI Charges in Court

When it comes to drunk and drugged driving in the State of Indiana, the proper term is technically OWI – or operating while intoxicated – as opposed to the more common DUI (driving under the influence). However, in many instances, these terms are used interchangeably. 

Being convicted of a DUI in Indiana can result in many negative repercussions. Your driver’s license could be suspended for a period of time, and you might also incur significant fines and perhaps jail time. The likelihood of jail time increases significantly if you are a repeat offender because, in those circumstances, courts believe that you have not learned your lesson. 

If you are facing a DUI charge, the knowledgeable Lake County, IN, DUI attorneys at Arshad, Pangere & Warring can determine if you might be eligible to raise a legal defense. Our team will work hard to help you pursue the best possible resolution of your DUI case. Please contact us to learn more about how we could assist you in defending your legal matter.

What Activities are Prohibited?

The State of Indiana’s OWI/DUI laws prohibit drivers from engaging in certain activities. If you engage in one or more of these activities, you could be arrested:

• Operating a motor vehicle while you have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher
• Operating a motor vehicle when you are, in fact, intoxicated by alcohol or drugs
• Operating a motor vehicle while you have any amount (even a small amount) of a Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substance in your system

These Schedule I and Schedule II controlled substances include hallucinogenic drugs, opiates, cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamines. In addition, when it comes to motor vehicle operators who are under 21 years of age, the State of Indiana utilizes a zero-tolerance policy. These underage drivers are not permitted to operate a motor vehicle if they have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.02 percent or higher.

Potential Penalties for a First-time DUI Conviction

Even first-time DUI convictions in the State of Indiana can incur significant penalties. Specifically, if you are convicted for the first time, you could receive a maximum of 60 days in jail (or a maximum of one year in jail if your BAC was 0.15 percent or higher). You could also be sentenced to a maximum of $500 in monetary fines (or a maximum of $5,000 in fines if your BAC was 0.15 percent or higher).

In addition to these penalties, your license could also be administratively suspended for a period of 180 days, and you could be required to have an ignition interlock device installed on your vehicle for a maximum of 60 days (or a maximum of one year if your BAC was 0.15 percent or higher). 

As you can imagine, these potential conviction penalties increase significantly if you have prior OWI/DUI convictions on your record. 

Contact a Lake County, IN, DUI Attorney Today

Let the knowledgeable attorneys at Arshad, Pangere & Warring assist you with every aspect of your pending DUI case. To schedule a case evaluation and legal consultation with a Lake County, IN, DUI attorney, please contact us directly.