Lake County Indiana DUI / OWI - Drunk Driving Lawyer

Operating While Intoxicated / Driving Under the Influence Attorney

Serving Northwest Indiana

In Indiana, the practice of operating a vehicle while using alcohol or other drugs is referred to as Operating While Intoxicated (“OWI” for short). The penalties for OWI range from fines to jail time to license suspension and more.

If you have been charged with OWI, it is very important that you seek out competent legal counsel to assist you in this matter. Simply put, there is just too much at risk to go it alone. The attorneys at Namie Bauer & Associates are here to assist you in a way that is both effective and affordable.

Before we discuss the issue of how we can assist you, here is what you need to know about the OWI laws.

What Constitutes an OWI Offense?

The law in Indiana states that you are guilty of OWI if you operate a vehicle while:

Having a blood alcohol concentration that exceeds .08%; or

Being intoxicated by either drugs or alcohol; or

Having any amount—no matter how small it may be—of a schedule I or a schedule II

substance in your body.

If you meet any of the above criteria when you are pulled over, you will be charged with OWI. What’s more, if you are under the age of 21, it is illegal for you to drive if your blood alcohol concentration is greater than or equal to .02%.

OWI Repercussions

If you are convicted of OWI, you are in danger of a number of severe consequences. First, this is a matter that will permanently remain on your criminal record as a prior offense. This means it could come back to haunt you later down the road if you run into trouble with the law—even if that trouble is completely unrelated to alcohol or drug use.

If you have any prior convictions within the past 5 years, your OWI will become a felony instead of a misdemeanor. This can carry other severe penalties.

Even if your OWI is a misdemeanor, you could face jail time of up to 60 days (or up to a year if your blood alcohol concentration is equal to or greater than .15%). This is true even on your first offense.

Likewise, even if it is your first OWI, you could be fined anywhere up to $5,000 depending on how high your blood alcohol concentration is. With a first offense, you are facing a license suspension of 180 days. On your second and third offenses, this suspension period increases to a year.

Finally, you will likely be facing the possibility of using an ignition interlock device for up to 60 days (if your blood alcohol level was equal to or greater than .15%, this increases to a year). Using an ignition interlock device can be time-consuming, embarrassing, and expensive.

A Seasoned Drunk Driving Attorney Can Make All the Difference

With the potential penalties that you face for an OWI, you can see that it makes sense to get the best attorney you can. You want to make sure that your attorney knows the ins and outs of the law, and has the knowledge, skills, and abilities to fight for your rights.

If you go this alone, you face the very real risk of an OWI conviction. This can be expensive, inconvenient, and go with you for the rest of your life. On the other hand, sometimes a seasoned attorney will be able to get crucial evidence thrown out. Barring that, he or she may be able to negotiate with the prosecutor and get him or her to agree to a lesser charge.

Namie Bauer & Associates Will Fight for You!

If you are facing a charge of OWI, you need to make sure that your representation is experienced and knowledgeable and professional - we have extensive experience in the various types of OWI charges.

We know what it takes to take an OWI charge to trial and win, and we know the ins and outs of Indiana criminal procedure. We can ensure that you are provided with the kind of legal representation that makes a difference in OWI cases.

Contact A DUI / OWI - Drunk Driving Lawyer For Help