OWI arrest records are some of the most difficult arrest records to deal with. Of course, it is not so much about the arrest record itself as it is about the crime.
OWI, or operating while intoxicated, is a misdemeanor crime, in most situations. It involves the act of consuming alcohol and then getting behind the wheel of a vehicle and driving. In most cases, persons arrested and convicted of OWI are not only obviously severely impaired, but are also well over the legal limitation placed on BAC or blood alcohol level. However, this is not the only way that you can be arrested and convicted of OWI.
One of the most important concepts to understand about OWI is that you do not have to exceed the legal limitations assigned to blood alcohol level in order to be convicted. If the arresting police officer can establish that you are impaired enough that you are a danger to yourself or others that share the road with you, you can be arrested and convicted of OWI, regardless of what level your BAC is tested at.
Being arrested and convicted of OWI presents a number of different challenges for the offender. First and foremost, the amount of resources it takes to go through the legal process assigned to an OWI is enormous. For example, financially, you should be expected to fork over thousands of dollars in legal fees as well as paying hundreds if not thousands in fines. You are also going to have to pay for public transportation since your license will likely be suspended and you may even wind up paying for a stint in drug and alcohol rehab if you do not have an insurance policy that will pay for it. But, your financial investment does not stop there. There are many indirect impacts that an OWI arrest and conviction will have that you might not think about until it happens to you.
You may find yourself unemployed and unable to find a job with arrest records for OWI. You may have been let go from your job due to excessive absences so that you could attend court or because your employer cannot employ you any longer due to your OWI arrest. If you are a business owner, you may find yourself without customers because OWI arrest records are public and word gets around fast.
You will also face challenges concerning your ability to function within your community. All of these stresses can place a strain on family life and oftentimes OWI offenders wind up divorced and having to deal with the financial fallout of that situation as well as dealing with custody issues if there are children involved. The repercussions of an OWI arrest can last for many years and cause untold heartache.
These stresses become significantly more impactful when you are facing a felony OWI charge due to having multiple Indiana Arrests and convictions.
Indiana Arrests for OWI carry a stiff penalty. Visit today to learn more about the negative effect that an OWI can have on your life.
Marchelle Lamaster