Operating While Intoxicated Defense in Lafayette: Value in Hiring an Attorney Early in Case

Police will be active in patrolling for drivers who may be Operating While Intoxicated over the next couple of weeks. Tippecanoe County law enforcement agencies will be participating in the statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. This means more patrols and potentially sobriety checkpoints. If you are arrested for OWI – DUI, it’s important to understand what to expect. In many cases, hiring an attorney early in the case can make a big difference.

What Happens to my Driver’s License if I am Arrested for OWI?

If you are arrested for OWI in Lafayette, Indiana, your driver’s license will be ordered suspended at the Initial Hearing for 180 days or until the case is resolved. If you need a license to drive to work, school, medical appointments, or to transport children, it’s important to contact an experienced OWI defense lawyer right away. In some cases, it’s possible to resolve the case by reducing the 180 days suspension to 0 days. In other cases, a person can obtain Specialized Driving Privileges to drive while the case is pending.

What will happen at the Initial Hearing?

The purpose of the Initial Hearing is to notify you of your Constitutional rights, provide you with a copy of the charges, and schedule future court hearings. If you retain an attorney for a misdemeanor OWI charge, you will not have to appear for the Initial Hearing. Charges in Tippecanoe County are typically filed 7 to 10 days prior to the Initial Hearing. An attorney can enter an Appearance, obtain the Discovery (which includes the police reports and other evidence), and start working on your case immediately when charges are filed.

Hiring an attorney early in the case can have a big impact on your driving privileges.  As mentioned above, your driver’s license will be ordered suspended at the Initial Hearing. If you hire an attorney before charges are filed, the attorney will have 7 to 10 days to work on your case before your license is suspended.

What happens after the Initial Hearing?

At the Initial Hearing, the Court will schedule a Case Management, Pre-Trial Conference, Final Pre-Trial Conference, and Jury Trial date. These hearing will generally take place over four to eight weeks. An experienced Lafayette OWI attorney will not wait for these hearings but will take immediate action. The evidence in the case will be available the day charges are filed. At that time, an attorney can analyze the legality of the traffic stop, the breath or blood test procedures, and other evidence to identify whether there is a viable defense.

Gibson Law Office – Experienced Lafayette OWI Defense Attorneys

If you are arrested in Lafayette, Indiana for Operating While Intoxicated, it’s important to retain an experienced attorney. Gibson Law Office attorneys have defended OWI cases in Tippecanoe County for more than 20 years. We know the local rules and customs, including that charges are generally filed 7 to 10 days prior to the Initial Hearing. Taking immediate action could help minimize any driver’s license suspension. If you are arrested for OWI – DUI, call Gibson Law Office for a free consultation with one of our attorneys.