Skilled DUI Attorney in West Lafayette, IN
Driving under the influence (DUI), or operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI), is a criminal offense that can threaten your ability to drive, your freedom, and your future. It’s crucial that you work with a West Lafayette DUI lawyer to take quick action to protect your driving privileges and work to build a defense against your criminal case.
Experienced West Lafayette Criminal Defense Lawyer at The Criminal Defense Team
OWI charges can lead to serious fines and jail time even for first-time offenders, and can have more severe consequences on repeat offenses or aggravated incidents. At The Criminal Defense Team of Baldwin Perry & Wiley P.C., our team has more than 100 combined years of experience to help you limit or avoid the penalties of a conviction.
Our team includes five Board-Certified Criminal Trial Specialists and a former prosecutor who handled major felony cases.* To bring you the most benefits of our team’s abilities, every case is managed by two attorneys and a paralegal, and our team brainstorms on each case. We also have a defense attorney on-call 24/7. All of this makes sure we are responsive and available for your defense.
The firm’s resources also help us manage large evidence sets in discovery. Our firm brings you aggressive defense but compassionate support when you face OWI charges in West Lafayette.
*Andrew Baldwin, Kathie Perry, Maxwell Wiley, Kelly Pyle, and Michael C. Cunningham are Board-Certified* Criminal Trial Specialists, as certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Find out why having a Board-Certified* Criminal Trial Specialist as your defense lawyer is important here.
OWI Charges in West Lafayette
An OWI offense in Indiana is charged when you operate a vehicle and any of the following is true:
- You are intoxicated.
- You have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or greater.
- You have a Schedule I or II substance or metabolites present in your blood.
These offenses are generally Class C misdemeanors, but can be elevated to Class A misdemeanors for a BAC of over 0.15%, intoxication that causes endangerment of others, and other aggravating factors.
The Indiana Management Performance Hub (MPH) reported 1,211 traffic impairment offenses in Tippecanoe County in 2025, which made up 65.7% of traffic offenses in the county. Half the offenses were alcohol OWI offenses.
Potential DUI Penalties
Penalties for an OWI are severe, and judges are less likely to be lenient because of the consequences of drunk and impaired driving. Arrests for an OWI can occur along US Route 52 and other roads because of traffic stops, OWI checkpoints, or collisions. Alcohol-impaired driving collisions in Indiana led to 92 fatalities and 1,305 individuals injured in 2024.
A Class C misdemeanor can lead to up to 60 days of imprisonment and a fine up to $500. A Class A misdemeanor results in up to one year of imprisonment and a fine up to $5,000.
If the DUI results in any level of injury or death, it becomes a felony offense. It also becomes a felony if the offense was committed by someone 21 or older and there was someone under the age of 18 in the vehicle. Prior DUI offenses in the past seven years also make a subsequent offense a felony. These offenses can range from between six months and three years of imprisonment to between two and 12 years of imprisonment, as well as fines up to $10,000.
You could also face driver’s license suspension, probation, community service, and the cost to get your vehicle out of impound. Depending on the offense, you may be required to attend treatment and victim impact panels. You may also have to install an ignition interlock device in your vehicle. Being convicted of a felony can also affect your civil rights.
Why You Need an OWI Lawyer
Getting arrested for an OWI doesn’t equal a conviction. There may be multiple potential defenses to limit the severity of your charges or avoid conviction entirely. You need a lawyer to assess these options and get the most beneficial outcome to your case that is possible in West Lafayette.
FAQs
What Is the Average Cost of a DUI in Indiana?
The average cost of a DUI in Indiana depends on the severity of the offense, the number of prior DUI convictions you have, and other factors. A first offense often results in fines between $500 and $5,000, on top of court costs.
Working with an attorney can be costly, but it could help you avoid conviction and severe fines, as well as minimize the long-term costs of having a criminal record, increased insurance costs, and other collateral consequences.
Should I Hire a Lawyer for My DUI?
Yes, you should hire a DUI lawyer if you’ve been arrested. Just because you were arrested or charged with an OWI doesn’t mean you will automatically be convicted. An attorney can assess your options for defense, like a lack of probable cause for a traffic stop or other medical conditions influencing an alcohol breath test. You are more likely to see the charges dismissed or reduced when you work with a lawyer.
Is a DUI a Felony Now in Indiana?
A DUI can be a felony in Indiana, but there are still DUI misdemeanor offenses. An OWI offense can become a felony in Indiana if the person had a passenger younger than 18 in the vehicle during the offense, or if the person caused serious bodily injury, catastrophic injury, or death.
The offense also becomes a felony if it is a second offense. When those prior offenses were offenses causing death or injury, penalties are more severe.
How Likely Is Jail Time for a First-Time DUI in Indiana?
Jail time is possible for a first-time DUI in Indiana, but it is not usually mandatory. An OWI without aggravating factors could result in up to 60 days or one year of imprisonment. Whether or not jail time is assigned depends on facts like your defense and the judge on the case. A felony OWI does have a minimum imprisonment sentence, so a conviction will likely lead to time in prison. An attorney can explain potential outcomes of your case.
Hire a DUI Lawyer in West Lafayette
There are ways to work against criminal charges for an OWI. The right team can make a substantial difference in the outcome of your case. At The Criminal Defense Team, our Board-Certified Criminal Trial Specialists, seasoned attorneys, and dedicated paralegals can help you protect your future from OWI and DUI charges. Only 0.04% of attorneys in Indiana have secured criminal trial specialist certification. Let our team help you. Contact us today.