Mayor’s arrest highlights Indiana OWI/DUI laws

On Behalf of | Oct 13, 2022 | DUI Defense

Drunk driving offenses are among the most commonly charged crimes in Indiana, and can involve people from all walks of life. Recently, the mayor of an Indiana city was arrested and faces multiple charges related to drunk driving.

According to news reports, the mayor of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was arrested one recent Saturday night after getting into a minor accident with another car. There were no reports of any injuries.

Police said officers at the scene asked the 70-year-old mayor to perform a field sobriety test, in which they asked him to take such actions as standing on one leg. He was later taken to a nearby jail, where he submitted to a chemical breath test designed to determine his blood alcohol concentration. Police said his BAC was 0.152%. well over the legal limit of 0.08%.

Police said the man admitted he had consumed several glasses of wine earlier that evening at a fundraiser.

Apology and sympathy

The mayor reportedly spent the night in jail and was released the next morning. The next day, he issued an apology to the community, expressing his remorse about his lapse in judgment. Some prominent members of the community expressed sympathy. These included another local politician who is running against the man in the race for the mayor’s office.

While it is remarkable when a prominent politician is charged with drunk driving, this arrest was in many ways quite routine. Every night of the week, drivers in Indiana are arrested on similar charges and go through similar experiences. Many, no doubt, feel the same sense of remorse and embarrassment that the mayor expressed.

Still, it’s important to remember that every person who is accused of a crime deserves a defense. A skilled defense attorney can help them craft and implement a strategy to protect their rights and limit the damage these charges can bring to their personal and professional lives.