If you are a college student in Indiana, you’ve likely been cramming for final exams and are greatly looking forward to the winding down of this semester. Even if you take a little spring break vacation with your friends, you might also be among those who are working their way through university by holding down a job all year round. Perhaps the work you do is within your field of study, thus already allowing you to have a foot in the door for a future career after graduation.
This is an exciting time in your life. You’re getting good grades, making money to pay down your loans and forging friendships that may last your lifetime. Others who have trod the path before you have sometimes been caught off-guard by sudden, unexpected circumstances that not only affected their lives on campus but also had negative impacts on their long-term futures as well. Many such situations involved DUI charges.
Beware potential repercussions
If police pull you over on suspicion of driving under the influence, it might not seem like such a big deal. Perhaps you only had a drink or two and figure you’ll comply with the officer’s request to take a Breathalyzer, prove you’re not drunk, then be on your way. In reality, it’s not always so simple. Plenty of people have still been charged with DUI above and beyond any Breathalyzer evidence of intoxication, the long-term effects of which might include the following:
- If police arrest you and charge you with DUI, chances are authorities are going to contact school administrators, informing them of your situation. Depending on regulations at the college you attend, this might be grounds for immediate suspension.
- Even if the college allows you to continue your enrollment, your grades may take a nosedive if you lose valuable study time due to time obligations involved with court appointments, meetings with your defense attorney, etc.
- Besides academic-related issues, DUI’s often cause motor vehicle accidents, injuries and death. In fact, nearly 2,000 college students die every year in alcohol-related situations.
- Students who face DUI charges or other alcohol-related problems are often at greater risk for suicide, depression and other adverse health conditions.
As you can see, moving forward from a DUI without negative impact may not be as easy as you’d hoped. This list is doesn’t even include the issues you’re likely to face when you have to call home from school and tell your parents you’ve been arrested and charged with drunk driving.
Minimizing consequences
Even if you did suffer a momentary lapse of judgment and got behind the wheel when you shouldn’t have, you’re certainly not the first college student to do so. Often, the only sure way to avoid such problems is to completely abstain from alcohol when planning to operate a motor vehicle. That said, if police have already charged you with DUI, you’re probably wondering what options are available to increase the chances of avoiding conviction and lessen the negative aspects of your situation.
Typically, the best way to fight against DUI charges in Indiana is to act alongside skilled and experienced defense representation. Finding an attorney who has successfully helped other college students avoid conviction would be the best bet for obtaining similar results. An experienced attorney can also try to help mitigate extenuating circumstances regarding your college career or your job.
