Reader’s Question:

What would I do if I’m faced in a DUI stop here in South Bend, Indiana and how would I fight it if I’m charged with DUI?

Darius

South Bend, IN

A DUI charge in South Bend, Indiana would not automatically be a slam dunk conviction because most DUI cases are weak, at best. So it would really help you a lot if you know how you would fight your DUI case if you get arrested. Let me remind you first that you can definitely avoid being arrested for DUI if you simply don’t drink and drive. But even a couple of beers with dinner could put an average person over the legal limit. So if you’re not lucky enough and be stopped for DUI, don’t admit anything. You have to exercise your right to remain silent and answer only questions as to your identity and the vehicle. Small talk would simply be a tactic to provide the officer with more time and opportunity to determine if you are intoxicated.

If you fail the tests the officer would ask you to, you’ll probably be arrested for DUI. After the arrest and before the first court date, which is your arraignment, you need to obtain the services of a DUI lawyer. The DUI lawyer would help you fight your DUI case and even tell you what to do in case you’ll be dropped by your auto insurance provider. And you don’t have to worry if that happens, because there’s a great auto insurance that awaits you so get an online rate quote now from this website.

Tags: auto insurance, auto insurance quotes, DUI, DUI arrest

Reader’s Question:

If I get convicted for my DUI charge here in Fort Wayne, Indiana, will my conviction stay on my record? What if I just plead guilty to my case, can I get it reduced to a lesser offense?

Harvey

Fort Wayne, IN

A DUI conviction would stay on your record and it should be disclosed during job interviews, when going abroad and loan applications. Sometimes, it would be better to plead guilty so that you may get your charge reduced to a lesser offense to avoid the possible negative outcome of a trial. But like any criminal case, you’re presumed innocent until proven guilty. It may not look and feel that way when you walk away from a DUI arrest with a temporary driver’s license, but the prosecutor still has the burden of proof in a DUI case.

Chemical test rights and its consequences as well as the Miranda rights should be read to you at appropriate times. Your DUI case on Fort Wayne, Indiana will probably not be thrown out if you were not read these rights, but it is a hole in the prosecution’s case that will not hurt your defense, either. In any case, you also would probably have higher car insurance rates so be sure to shop around but you’d likely find the car insurance deal that you are looking for from this site so get a free online rate quote now.

Tags: car insurance, car insurance quotes, DUI, DUI lawyer

Reader’s Question:

How can I get an SR22 auto insurance to reactivate my driver’s license after my DUI conviction here in Bloomington, Indiana?

Mario

Bloomington, IN

A drunk driving or DUI conviction can suspend the driver’s license of a person and people like you whose driver’s license is under suspension by the Indiana Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) need an SR22 auto insurance to reinstate their licenses.

The first thing that you would have to do to reactivate your driver’s license after your DUI conviction in Bloomington, Indiana is to purchase minimum liability coverage on the vehicle/s you own. If you don’t personally own a motor vehicle, you should purchase “non-owners” liability coverage. The price would be based on the number of years of driving experience, the severity of your driving record (accidents and violations) and where you live. If you don’t know what’s on your driving record, you can purchase it from the DMV (the usual cost is $5 to $10 per record). After that you have to purchase the proper kind of auto insurance policy, one that has SR22 filing. The option on the top portion of this website could definitely help you get an SR22 auto insurance that is right for you and all you have to do is enter your zip code.

Tags: auto insurance, DUI, DUI conviction, SR22 insurance

Reader’s Question:

Could you explain to me what really the risk of drunk driving is and why does someone convicted for DUI would have increased insurance rates? My uncle got a DUI conviction here in Gary, Indiana and I also heard that he needs to get an SR22 auto insurance, what is this?

Jamar

Gary, IN

Well, if there is something that could drive anyone’s car insurance cost sky-high, it would be drunk driving or DUI conviction; that’s because according to the Insurance Information Institute, there’s an alcohol-related traffic fatality in the US every 29 minutes. So, aside from the risk of killing yourself and other people, drunk driving would carry serious penalties from your car insurance company.

The state of Indiana requires DUI offenders to get a form called SR22 from their auto insurance companies, so no one can hide. Your uncle needs to get SR22 auto insurance after his DUI conviction in Gary, Indiana and this form would prove to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that he carries liability insurance and it would remove his driver’s license from suspension. The SR22 auto insurance also requires his insurance company to notify the DMV if it cancels his auto insurance for any reason. He would likely have to file proof of insurance for three years with the DMV. Right now, he might be looking for an insurance company who would give him coverage for his SR22 auto insurance so I suggest for him to get an online rate quote available from this website.

Tags: DMV, drunk driving insurance, DUI, SR22 insurance

Reader’s Question:

I know that I am facing a serious charge after my DUI arrest in Terre Haute, Indiana. What I need to know now is that, what are the penalties involved for a first-time DUI offense if I get convicted?

Laney

Terre Haute, IN

After your DUI arrest in Terre Haute, Indiana, your driver’s license was taken away, and that is the first penalty that you will ever receive for being charged for DUI. But the good news is that you could still drive until you receive your suspension from either the court or the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. When facing your DUI court case in the state of Indiana, it is very essential that you hire the services of a DUI lawyer. If you plead guilty for the DUI charge, it can make it easier to get your license back but it will add a DUI offense to your record.

If you are ultimately convicted for your DUI charge, you are facing very strict penalties. First is that you will be sentenced for jail time of 60 days to one year an there is no mandatory minimum. You will also have to pay fines of $500 to $5,000, again no mandatory minimum; there is a possible installation of ignition interlock device and you will also have a possible probationary license.

Tags: drunk driving laws, DUI, DUI cost, DUI lawyer, DUI penalties

Reader’s Question:

When my sister was arrested for DUI in Evansville, Indiana, she said that she took some of the field sobriety tests. I heard that some of these tests are divided attention tests, what does this mean?

Ramsey

Evansville, IN

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has developed standardized field sobriety tests that are designed to detect an impaired driver. On your sister’s DUI arrest in Evansville, Indiana, the field sobriety tests (FST’s) that she took which are considered as divided attention tests are the walk-and-turn test and the one-leg stand. These tests are said to be effective and proven accurate in DUI detection. Divided attention tests would require a person to concentrate on two things at once and an example of divided attention task is driving.

A driver should simultaneously control steering, acceleration and braking, and react appropriately to changing conditions in order to operate a vehicle safely. FST’s that simulate the divided attention characteristics of driving are being used by law enforcement agencies in the country. The best tests use the same physical and mental capabilities that an individual needs to drive safely: short-term memory, information processing, balance, judgment and decision making, coordination of the limbs, sure reactions, steadiness, small muscle control and clear vision.

Tags: DUI, DUI lawyer, field sobriety tests

Reader’s Question:

Is it true that if I hire a lawyer, the lawyer can appear for me at the arraignment of my DUI case in Muncie, Indiana?

Elaine

Muncie, IN

The arraignment would be your first court date for your DUI charge in Muncie, Indiana. If your charge is a misdemeanor DUI, then definitely, you lawyer could appear for you, which means that you don’t have to be present at this court date. The same would be usually true for all your future court dates. At the arraignment of your case, your DUI lawyer would first, enter a plea of “not guilty” on your behalf, then he would receive initial set of police and scientific reports and he would also set the DUI case a pre-trial court date to occur a few weeks later.

At this point, your DUI lawyer and his staff would investigate and begin to develop the defenses and favorable issues in your DUI case. The preparation could include obtaining further documents from the prosecution, obtaining the maintenance history of the equipment used such as the breath machine, examining the scene of the DUI stop, interviewing third-party witnesses, reviewing the radio records and compliant history of the police officer, drafting motions to be presented at court and DMV hearings and having your own toxicologist analyze the blood or breath tests results.

Tags: blood test, breath test, driver’s license, DUI, DUI lawyer

Reader’s Question:

What do you think is the best thing that I should do if I am stopped here in Hammond, Indiana for DUI and questioned by an officer after I have been drinking?

Herbert

Hammond, IN

If you are stopped by an officer in Hammond, Indiana for DUI suspicion, you are probably being videotaped. You just have to be polite and courteous because antagonizing the police officer would invite problems. If asked, you should hand the officer your license and proof of insurance. Don’t ever admit guilt, never apologize, and most especially, don’t volunteer any information. This is definitely not the perfect time to beg your way out of a traffic ticket. If you are questioned, you could respectfully tell the officer that you would not answer any questions without a lawyer present. When the officer is finished writing the ticket/warning, ask if you are free to leave.

If you are told that you are free to leave, you have to thank your lucky stars that you have not learned your lesson the hard way and next time, be on your way carefully and lawfully. Don’t drink and drive again to avoid being stopped again for DUI or if you can’t avoid drinking, you could have someone who hasn’t been drinking to drive you home safely. If you are told by the officer that you are not free to leave, you have to immediately request for a lawyer, terminate the interview and best of all, remain silent.

Tags: advice, DUI, DUI arrest, DUI lawyer

Reader’s Question:

I would have my license reinstated very soon after a DUI charge in Indianapolis, Indiana and I know that I would have to get SR22 insurance. I don’t really understand what it is, all I know is that it is required. What is SR22 car insurance and why would I need it?

Reese

Indianapolis, IN

SR22 car insurance is a certificate that is required to provide proof of liability insurance after you have been charged for DUI in Indianapolis, Indiana. Since your driver’s license was suspended, you need to get an SR22 car insurance to reinstate your license. SR22 car insurance would be a proof for the motor vehicle department that you have enough liability insurance to cover the minimum required liability limits in the state of Indiana. The auto insurance company that would provide your SR22 insurance would be required to notify the state motor vehicle department once your insurance coverage lapses or is cancelled. Should this happen, you would need to reinstate your car insurance or your license could be suspended until you have coverage again.

Not all auto insurance companies provide an SR22 insurance because only companies which specialize in high risk auto insurance offer it. You’re already considered a high-risk driver because of your DUI charge so you would probably have to pay a higher premium. Since you need SR22 car insurance, you need to shop around for it. Be ready to get a great online rate quote for SR22 car insurance available from this website.

Tags: driver’s license, drunk driving insurance, DUI, DUI lawyer, SR22 insurance

Reader’s Question:

In relation to DUI in the State of Indiana, how can someone be considered as a habitual traffic violator? And if for some reason I get stopped for DUI here in Anderson, Indiana, should I make a statement to the police officer?

Noel

Anderson, IN

Habitual Traffic Violator, also popularly known as HTV, is what the Bureau of Motor Vehicles designates a person who accumulates several convictions of major traffic offenses, including the crime of DUI, or a single major conviction that is combined with nine minor violations within a period of 10 years. The penalty for this is driver’s license suspension for a period of five to 10 years. If a person drives after becoming a habitual traffic violator, the driver’s license of that person could be suspended for the rest of his life. This is one of the reasons why every single traffic violation, including DUI, must be taken seriously.

Regarding your other question, don’t ever make a statement to the police officer if you get stopped for DUI in Anderson, Indiana. What the officer needs to know or ask you is only your license and registration. Aside from the basic information that is required to establish your identity or to fill out an accident report, you can decline to answer any questions without your lawyer present. You do run the risk of getting a conviction if you do more than that.

Tags: drunk driving laws, DUI, DUI arrest, DUI lawyer