Indiana DUI Statistics

After a significant decline in 2006, arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) in Indiana edged back up in 2007 and 2008, but are still below 2004 and 2005 levels. Figures for the five-year period are part of the Federal Bureau of Investigations annual Crime in the U.S. Reports.

In 2008, reports from 155 Indiana law enforcement agencies documented 23,475 DUI arrests, only a dozen more than the 2007 total of 23,463. That number was up nearly four percent from 22,586 in 2006, which saw an 18 percent decrease from the 2005 total of 27,569.

Indiana DUI Penalty Options Include Ignition Blocking System

Indiana is one of several states that gives its courts the option of ordering the ignition interlock device (IID) as a deterrent against repeat DUI offenses. When wired into a DUI offender's vehicle's ignition system, the IID prevents the vehicle from being started until the driver passes a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) breath test, using a meter attached to the dashboard.

For a first DUI conviction, an offender may receive a fine of up to $5,000, and up to a year in jail. If use of the IID is ordered, the offender must pay for its installation, monthly rental, and periodic servicing. The court also has the option of sentencing the offender to probation while attending a substance abuse education course at the offender's expense and suspending driving privileges for up to a month, followed by six months of driving only to and from work.

Repeat Offenses Bring Increased Penalties

Penalties increase with a second conviction, including a fine of up to $10,000 and jail time of up to three years. Community service may also be required. Subsequent convictions incur increased penalties.

Consult a Drunk Driving Defense Lawyer

If you have been arrested for DUI, you need the assistance of an experienced attorney, who can ensure that you are afforded every right guaranteed you as a defendant. If you are convicted, the courts have a range of sentencing options. Your attorney will fight to keep your punishment from ruining your finances and your reputation. Contact a DUI lawyer today.