Indianapolis Criminal Defense Law Blog

Understanding Indiana’s point system

On behalf of Todd L. Sallee, Attorney at Law on Wednesday, June 26, 2019.

When you get convicted of a traffic violation in Indiana, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles assesses a certain number of points against your Indiana driver’s license. How many points you get depends on the violation(s) for which you received a conviction.

For instance, speeding violation convictions result in the following number of points:

Two points for driving 1-15 mph over the posted speed limit
Four points for driving 16-25 mph over the posted speed limit
Eight points for driving 26 or more mph over the posted speed limit

Are drug courts effective?

On behalf of Todd L. Sallee, Attorney at Law on Wednesday, May 15, 2019.

Today’s drug offenders often face serious consequences after committing drug-related crimes. Often, it is the drug addiction that drives an offender’s criminal behavior. If you count yourself among the many people across Indiana currently suffering from drug addiction, you may understand all too well how your addiction can make you do things you otherwise would never dream of doing under normal circumstances.

The goods news, though, is that if your drug-related crime was not a violent one, you may be able to enroll in an Indiana drug court. Drug courts are programs designed to help drug offenders kick their addictions, and, in turn, keep more of them out of the justice and prison systems. The National Institute of Justice reports drug courts can be highly effective. Just how do drug courts typically work, and how could you benefit from enrolling in one?

How much can an Indiana DUI raise your insurance rates?

On behalf of Todd L. Sallee, Attorney at Law on Wednesday, April 3, 2019.

When law enforcement stops you in Indiana and an officer suspects you have recently drunk alcohol, he or she will probably ask that you take a breath test to reveal whether you have, in fact, consumed more alcohol than the law allows. If so, you can expect that authorities will file charges against you, and if those charges ultimately lead to a conviction, you can anticipate facing some particularly harsh penalties.

Even if it is your first time facing such a conviction, you can still anticipate spending time in jail, paying hefty fines, losing your license and installing an ignition interlock device on your vehicle, and there are various fines and fees associated with many of these repercussions. In addition to paying as much as $5,000 in fines alone, depending on your degree of intoxication, and having to install the ignition interlock device in your car at your own expense, Insure.com reports that you can also plan on watching your auto insurance rates skyrocket following a DUI conviction.

How Indiana's expungement law works

On behalf of Todd L. Sallee, Attorney at Law on Thursday, February 21, 2019.

Sometimes people make poor choices. These decisions can create temporary problems or have far-reaching consequences. If you face arrest and jail time, you may feel like your life is over.

Indiana does not believe in holding a mistake against you forever. If you faced arrest or, in some cases, conviction of a crime, there is a chance that you can petition to have the court erase your record. Doing so may wipe the slate clean as if the arrest or subsequent conviction never occurred. Take a look at some facts about how this Second Chance Act works.

Your OWI may ruin your Canadian vacation

On behalf of Todd L. Sallee, Attorney at Law on Tuesday, January 8, 2019.

Like most residents of Indianapolis, you do your best to drive cautiously and responsibly. After all, a traffic citation can set you back hundreds of dollars. It can also cause your insurance rates to spike. If you have too much to drink before getting behind the wheel, however, operating a vehicle while intoxicated could turn your life upside down.

While you may worry about losing your driving privileges following a drunk driving conviction, your OWI could have a ripple effect on your future plans. If you plan a dream vacation to Canada or regularly travel into Toronto for business or pleasure, an OWI in the United States may prevent you from crossing the border altogether. Therefore, to protect your travel plans, you may need to exercise your legal right to defend yourself against an OWI conviction.

Craft beers and DUI

On behalf of Todd L. Sallee, Attorney at Law on Monday, November 26, 2018.

People all over the state of Indiana have come to love craft beer. For this reason, 148 breweries offering such craft beers have opened in the state, with 15 new ones opening in 2017 alone, shares Indiana On Tap.

Indiana residents are no longer confined to only consuming Budweiser or Coors Light. Each craft beer is unique, and while they can be tasty, there is also a reason for concern. People who consume craft beer need to avoid driving home at the end of the night because consuming even a couple beers can result in a DUI conviction.

Can a drug conviction impact financial aid eligibility?

On behalf of Todd L. Sallee, Attorney at Law on Tuesday, October 16, 2018.

By the time your college student heads off to school, you hope that you have instilled enough wisdom into your son or daughter that he or she avoids landing in serious trouble. College is, however, a time of experimentation for many students, but in some cases, that experimentation means the difference between being able to finance college and having no choice but to drop out.

If, for example, your college student begins experimenting with drugs and law enforcement officials catch him or her possessing, selling or otherwise breaking the law using illegal drugs, it can impact your student’s ability to receive financial aid.

How should one behave at a DUI checkpoint?

On behalf of Todd L. Sallee, Attorney at Law on Wednesday, September 5, 2018.

Many drivers do not realize DUI checkpoints are absolutely legal in the state of Indiana. They are necessary to preserve public safety, and they typically result in many arrests when they go up. One recent effort in Indiana resulted in the police arresting six drivers.

The best way to avoid arrest at a DUI checkpoint is to avoid driving while intoxicated. However, as you approach a checkpoint, there are certain actions you want to avoid even if you have had nothing to drink.

Murder is not an uncommon crime in Indiana

On behalf of Todd L. Sallee, Attorney at Law on Thursday, July 26, 2018.

Indiana is a beautiful state known for its agriculture and Midwestern friendliness. There is much to enjoy and love, but there are aspects of the area that are not quite so savory. According to Northwest Times, South Bend and Indiana are both among the top 30 cities in the United States for murder rates. This alarming fact brings to light the fact that there is a strong need for effective criminal defense in the state.

While murder rates might be exceptionally high, not all who are accused are guilty. Law enforcement is not infallible, and sometimes lacking evidence allows the wrong person to be named as a suspect. Following are three things you should know about facing murder charges and building a defense:

Expunging a criminal record in Indiana

On behalf of Todd L. Sallee, Attorney at Law on Friday, June 15, 2018.

If you have a criminal record in Indiana due to a conviction for an offense you committed, you are certainly aware of the negative impact it can have on your life. You may miss out on many promising opportunities because your prior conviction continues to follow you into the future, where you are asked about it on job applications and other disclosures.

The good news is that expungement is one way to erase your criminal record in Indiana. While expungement is not available for all offenses, it may be an option in your particular case.

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