Zionsville DUI Attorney
Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol is a criminal offense in all states, and in Indiana, it is referred to as operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI). Don’t take OWI charges lightly. Conviction of this offense can lead to jail or prison time, fines, and the loss of your driving privileges. There can also be collateral consequences for your employment. A Zionsville DUI lawyer is essential to defend you against these charges.
Hire a DUI Lawyer in Zionsville You Can Rely On
When you face DUI and OWI charges, work with a defense team you can trust to fight for the ideal result. The Criminal Defense Team has decades of collective experience in criminal defense law, offering aggressive representation and compassionate guidance. Our team is made up of five board-certified* criminal trial specialists, and we work only in criminal defense law. We can help you navigate complex OWI cases and give you the support you need.
When you work with our firm, at least two attorneys and a seasoned paralegal handle your case, giving you a stronger and more available defense team. We fight the government with an insider’s edge—a former prosecutor with experience in homicide and major felony prosecution, so they know how to expose fatal flaws in their evidence.
Also, we offer 100+ years of legal expertise that’s focused on your case. We have the resources to navigate significant amounts of evidence, such as body cam footage. You can always get an attorney on call 24/7. OWI charges can threaten your future, and it is crucial that you get the legal defense you deserve to protect your interests.
Understanding OWI Offenses in Zionsville
You can be charged with an OWI offense if you operate a vehicle and:
- Are intoxicated
- Had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher
- Had a Schedule I or Schedule II controlled substance present in your blood
There were 8,524 arrests for driving under the influence in Indiana in 2019, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (CJI) reported nearly 35,400 arrests for OWI offenses in Indiana in 2020, and 467 of those arrests were in Boone County.
OWI Penalties in Indiana
Charges for a first-time OWI offense might include a class C misdemeanor, for being intoxicated with a BAC between 0.08% and 0.15% or having a Schedule I or II substance in your blood.
However, the charge can be a more serious class A misdemeanor in cases where the BAC is 0.15% or higher or the driver is intoxicated and operating the vehicle in a manner that endangers others.
Penalties can increase to felony charges for prior offenses within the past seven years, operating the vehicle with someone under the age of 18 in the vehicle, or causing injury or death to another person in a vehicle accident caused by impairment. Driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol increases the risk of an accident. In 2023, the Indiana CJI reported 22 alcohol-related accidents, with luckily no fatalities.
Exceptions to OWI Laws
If you are charged with an OWI on the basis of a Schedule I or Schedule II substance in your blood, there may be a defense available. For example, one possible defense is that you took the substance as part of a valid prescription or order given by a practitioner.
An affirmative defense may apply if the substance is marijuana and all the following are true:
- You were not intoxicated.
- You didn’t cause an accident.
- The substance was identified through a chemical test after your arrest.
An attorney can help you explore all possible defense strategies to determine which is most beneficial for your unique DUI case.
What Are Potential Penalties for an OWI?
If you are convicted of an OWI, you can face penalties such as:
- Time in jail or in prison
- Significant fines
- Suspension of your driver’s license
- Paying to get your vehicle out of impound
- Community service requirements
- Probation requirements
- Required attendance of victim impact panels
- Installation of an ignition interlock device in your vehicle
If your offense is a class C misdemeanor, you can face up to 60 days of imprisonment and up to $500 in fines. For more serious charges, like a level 5 felony, you could face between one and six years of imprisonment and fines up to $10,000. Felonies also carry other consequences, such as the potential loss of civil rights.
What Are the Benefits of an OWI Lawyer?
Many people think that because they have been arrested for an OWI or DUI offense, a conviction is inevitable. This isn’t the case. There are several potential defenses that could reduce the charges you face or even prevent a conviction entirely. A criminal defense attorney can:
- Listen to the facts of your traffic stop and arrest from your point of view
- Investigate the traffic stop or accident and the way the arrest was conducted
- Determine if your rights were respected throughout the process
- Assess the charges against you and the strength of the prosecution’s case
- Help you understand the charges, penalties, and options for defense
- Determine what defense strategy is most effective for your OWI case
- Represent you in administrative hearings
- Answer any questions you have
- Work to dismiss charges against you prior to trial
- Represent you in your criminal trial
- Negotiate a plea deal for reduced charges if it is the ideal resolution
You are much more likely to get a beneficial outcome in your case with an attorney. An OWI charge in Zionsville may be heard at the historic Boone County Courthouse, located at 310 Courthouse Square in Lebanon. An attorney at The Criminal Defense Team of Baldwin, Perry & Wiley, PC can help you prepare for the criminal case and administrative hearing in your OWI case.
Work With the Right Zionsville DUI Attorney
You need an attorney with the skill and resources to stand up for you. Our firm has secured a case dismissal for drunk driving charges, and we can fight for you to secure the ideal outcome in your OWI case. Our five board-certified* criminal trial specialists can assess important potential defenses like a lack of probable cause for a traffic stop, improper chain of custody issues for evidence, or failure by the officer to follow procedure during a stop.
If you are facing charges for an OWI in Zionsville, reach out to The Criminal Defense Team today.
*Our attorneys are certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.