Traffic Law

The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution states that every citizen shall enjoy the right “to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.” While this right applies to passengers and drivers during a traffic stop, you have slightly different rights and responsibilities as a passenger. While the police have the authority to ask for the driver’s identification during a traffic stop, they don’t have that same authority…

You have been charged with a crime.  It is probably one of the most stressful times you have ever had in your life.  You may have just spent a miserable night or two in jail and are completely exhausted.  However, now you have a very important decision to make.  Who should I hire as my criminal defense attorney?  In this blog we will list 10 questions you should ask when talking to a potential attorney…

Many people who have committed their first criminal offense find themselves eligible for a diversion. A diversion is an agreement between the State and a criminal defendant that essentially says, “If you pay a fee and do either some community service, or a class, the State will dismiss your case.” A diversion is almost always a good option if it is available. In most cases, you will need an attorney to negotiate this on your…

Many people who receive traffic infractions or ordinance violations find that they don’t have much of an opportunity to actually contest them. Most of the time, the cost of an attorney is significantly higher than just paying a ticket, so drivers will pay the ticket and move on, even if they don’t agree with the ticket. In traffic cases, you have a short window within which to pay the ticket or face a license suspension….

In 2019, there were approximately 50,000 people who were injured in auto accidents in the State of Indiana alone. The likelihood of being in an accident after driving for a lifetime is very high. If you are injured in an auto accident, it is imperative that you understand the deadlines for filing and pursuing a legal claim.   According to Indiana Code § 34-11-2-4, a claimant has two years from the date of their accident…

Under Indiana Law, courts may order the suspension of a person’s driving privileges in lieu of criminal charges or an ongoing investigation. Indiana drivers whose licenses have been suspended by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles or a court may petition to obtain a Specialized Driver’s Privilege. Specialized Driving Privileges allow Indiana residents to drive for specific purposes while their Indiana driver’s license is suspended. Under Ind. Code § 9-30-16-3, an individual who seeks specialized…

One of the most frequent calls we get are from individuals with suspended licenses who are ready to get their license back to valid but have no idea where to begin. Whether you have a record that has been suspended for 20+ years or have a single traffic ticket, it can be confusing to navigate the Indiana BMV’s record to try to determine what needs to happen to get you back to valid. This article…

A Look at Indiana Senate Bill 98 – Specialized Driving Privileges – Under state law, Indiana courts can order the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) to suspend a person’s driving privileges (driver’s license) for certain reasons.  Also, state law requires the BMV to suspend a person’s driver’s license for certain violations.  However, Indiana law says that some people under certain circumstances can be granted “specialized driving privileges” (SDP). An SDP is similar to what used…