Indiana Criminal Defense Lawyer

Indiana House Bill 1020 would permit judges discretion in requiring any convicted drunk driving/OWI to install an alcohol-detecting ignition interlock device (IID) in his or her car. Current Indiana law only allows for an ignition interlock requirement after a second offense OWI conviction.

However, the bill may still be changed during the legislative process to require the devices after any 1st offense drunk driving conviction. MADD and other advocacy groups are pushing for an even tougher bill.  Industry groups that represent restaurants believe a mandatory 1st offense IID requirement is far too strict, and unfairly punishes average people who may have made a 1 time mistake and been caught barely over the limit. [read more...]

Methamphetamine labs are on the rise again in Indiana, according to this article from the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. 2008 saw the 2^nd highest total annual amount of meth lab busts in the state.

Why the Increase? Despite new laws regarding pseudoephedrine and the increased farmer security on anhydrous ammonia, meth labs grew. This is due, they say, to new production methods that don’t require the use of ammonia and are simpler than the former science lab looking methods.

What the police call “one pot” or “shake and bake” cooking is much simpler than the old recipes and produces smaller quantities. This does not mean labs are cooking less. On the contrary, they cook more to make up for the smaller batches.

With this new method and subsequent production increases, state police have exhausted their overtime funds in combating the problem. Officers are now being compensated with comp time instead and no doubt feeling the effects of long hours with little payoff. [read more...]

ShotSpotter, a microphone-based application can locate gunfire origination and relay the information to police. It is being used in other departments across the country with seemingly good results. According to this article from the Indy Star Public Safety Director Scott Newman says he would like to have some in place by the end of this year.

At $500,000 for the first and $250,000 for every system thereafter, a dozen cameras are placed in a mile radius to pinpoint gunshot locations. These shots can be immediately sent to dispatch or even to cruisers. Because people sometimes fail to report shots fired, the police believe this shortened reaction time will increase the arrest rates. [read more...]