If you’ve been charged with an Indiana DUI, there are probably a few things you don’t understand. To begin with, a DUI in Indiana is formally known as operating a vehicle while intoxicated (or OVWI). It starts as a Class C misdemeanor, carrying a maximum penalty of 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. It’s pretty common though, for the State to increase the charge to a Class A misdemeanor.
What Is Endangerment in the Context of DUI?
For people who are facing an Indiana DUI, chances are good they can find the word endanger somewhere in the charging information. In many cases, this endangerment of a person’s life is what allows the State to enhance the DUI charge to a Class A misdemeanor. In Indiana, a Class A misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of 365 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.
Click here to read more about DUI with endangerment.