You like to go out and have a good time on occasion. A few years ago, you unfortunately received an operating while intoxicated (OWI) conviction after attending a big party at a friend’s house. You’ve been much more careful since then, to make sure you weren’t driving while drunk. But then the unthinkable happens: Police stop you after a Friday night out and arrest you for OWI again. What should you expect if you’re facing your second or even third OWI conviction?
Indiana OWI laws
In Indiana, if police charge you with a second or third OWI within a seven-year span, you likely could be facing a felony conviction. You also could have to:
- Pay up to $10,000 in fines
- Have your driver’s license suspended for up to two years
- Spend up to three years in jail (if charged with a felony)
You may face additional penalties if you had someone under 18 in your vehicle, your blood alcohol content was above .15 or you ended up injuring someone in a drunk driving crash.
When facing OWI charges
When police arrest you and charge you for drunk driving, you need to consult an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. You want an attorney to review the circumstances of your arrest and determine how to defend against the charges you face. You want to avoid getting a felony conviction if you can because it likely will impact your future employment opportunities and more.
You don’t want to forget you have rights when facing a second or third OWI conviction. With an attorney’s help, you can best protect those rights and your future.