If you were arrested and charged with a DUI in Indianapolis, Indiana or a neighboring City, please call the 1-800 number below to get in contact with an experienced DUI attorney to fight your case.
1-800-420-9444 or

Indianapolis OWI (DWI) Attorney

OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) Charges in Indianapolis, Indiana:

Indiana OWI arrests result in the police officer selecting a choice of blood, breath or urine testing to determine the alcohol content of the person arrested for OWI (DUI). The person arrested for operating while intoxicated (OWI) in Indiana has no right to select the test, nor any right to consult with an OWI criminal defense lawyer before deciding whether or not to submit to the test.

Under Indiana law, once you have been charged with violating the OWI statute, the state initiates two simultaneous, yet separate legal actions against you. The Criminal Action is in response to the ticket that was issued to you, while the Administrative Action is brought against your Indiana driver's license by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. While both actions can result in the loss of your driving privileges in Indiana, it is important to not forget that there may be other penalties to consider and each action must be handled separately.

Being charged with OWI in Indianapolis, Indiana is a serious offense that can have significant consequences, including jail time, loss of driving privileges, and monetary fines. OWI cases in Indiana are usually misdemeanor offenses, but the penalties in Indiana OWI (DWI) cases can increase dramatically when the BAC level is .15% or more. This is why it is important that anyone facing an OWI understand what processes they will face. Seeking the legal advice of an assertive and professional OWI defense lawyer will help you understand the intricacies of your case.

Administrative Hearing

Pursuant to Indiana law, an individual has 10 days to file for an administrative hearing from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. If you fail to file for a hearing within 10 days, your right to the administrative hearing is lost, and your Indiana driver's license is automatically suspended for the applicable statutory time frame. In order to keep your right to an administrative hearing, it is crucial that you submit your request to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles within 10 days.

OWI Penalties for First Time Offenders

  • Deferment - Deferment is only available to first time OWI offenders. This option dismisses the OWI charges against the offender, provided that the offender successfully finishes an alcohol evaluation and treatment program.
  • OWI Chemical Test Refusal - If you refuse to submit to a test when requested by law enforcement, it will result in the loss of driving privileges in Indiana for 1 (ONE) year.

OWI Subsequent Offenses

For any additional OWI violations, penalties are more severe. Due to the complexity of OWI (DWI) laws in Indiana, you may not be aware of all the options available to your case. This is why an assertive and professional OWI defense lawyer can guide you through this sometimes confusing process. Please contact a Indianapolis, Indiana OWI defense lawyer for a quick and easy consultation.

  • Monetary Fines - The fine for a first time OWI offender is $500.00, plus court costs, up to $5,000.00.
  • Driving Privileges - An OWI conviction results in the loss of driving privileges in Indiana for a minimum of 30 days up to two (2) years.
  • Time in Jail - A first time OWI offender will face 60 (SIXTY) days in jail, up to 1 year in jail.
  • Commercial Drivers - Commercial drivers are in violation of the OWI statute with a BAC (blood alcohol content) of 0.04. A first time OWI conviction will result in the loss of the commercial driver's license for one year (1 year), while any subsequent OWI offenses will result in a lifetime loss of the commercial license (Indiana CDL.)

    Contacting an assertive and resourceful OWI defense lawyer can help you fully understand your case and your Indiana OWI (operating while intoxicated) charges.

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