Hamilton County OWI Defense Attorney

Last updated on August 28, 2026

A traffic stop that leads to an OWI charge (known elsewhere as DUI, DWI, OVI, etc.) can feel like a complete shock. You might be facing the immediate loss of your driver’s license, steep fines and even jail time. If you’ve been charged, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed and uncertain about what comes next.

I am attorney David Shircliff. At Shircliff Law LLC, I’ve defended clients in some of the toughest OWI cases in Indiana. I understand how prosecutors build these cases and how to fight back. Your future matters too much to leave to chance.

How A OWI Attorney Can Fight For Your Rights and License

When facing an OWI charge, you need a lawyer who is unafraid to challenge the government’s evidence. My decades of trial experience give me the insight to spot procedural errors and fight to have evidence thrown out. My approach is to be your guide and your strongest advocate.

Some of the actions I take to defend your case:

• I will challenge the traffic stop. Did the police have a legal reason to pull you over? If the stop was not justified, any evidence obtained afterward may be inadmissible in court.
• I will scrutinize the field sobriety tests. These tests are often subjective and prone to error. I will question whether the officer administered the tests properly and interpreted your performance fairly.
• I will fight the chemical test results. Breathalyzers and blood tests can be inaccurate. I will investigate whether the device was properly calibrated and operated, and challenge the chain of custody of any blood evidence.
• I will negotiate with the prosecutor. My goal is always to get the best possible outcome for my clients. While I am always prepared to take your case to trial, I will work to get you a reduced charge, a favorable plea agreement or even a dismissal.

Clients who come to Shircliff Law LLC for help get my full focus. You won’t be handed off to a junior associate or left waiting for updates. Instead, I personally manage your case, explain each step in plain language and create a strategy built around your circumstances.

With decades of criminal defense work behind me, I’ve built a reputation for aggressive representation balanced with compassion for the people I serve. When you’re up against OWI charges, you want an attorney who knows how to fight hard in the courtroom and provide steady guidance outside of it.

The Consequences Of A OWI Conviction

OWI charges in Indiana carry serious penalties that increase in severity with prior offenses or aggravating factors. Even a first offense can create lasting problems.

Potential consequences include:

• Jail time
• Heavy fines
• License suspension or revocation
• Probation requirements
• Installation of an ignition interlock device

Beyond these penalties, a OWI conviction can damage your professional reputation, raise insurance premiums and create obstacles when applying for jobs or housing. Having an experienced Hamilton County OWI attorney gives you a chance to limit or avoid these outcomes. I also handle other cases like drug crimes and felonies that are sometimes charged alongside an OWI.

What To Do After An OWI Arrest

After an OWI arrest, you will have to, as with any other arrest, exercise your right to remain silent and speak to an attorney. By remaining silent, you can keep yourself from adding to the charges against you through your words, but by calling me in as your attorney, you can begin the real work of protecting yourself from the major consequences of a criminal conviction.

Frequently Asked Questions About Drunk Driving Charges

Drunk driving charges in Indiana are common enough that most people think they know what to expect. In reality, you will find yourself out of your depth quickly, unless you get legal help, and that’s why people turn to me. I answer questions about their specific charges, including some of these common ones.

What happens to your driver’s license immediately after an OWI arrest?

If you are arrested for OWI in Indiana, you may immediately lose your license through an administrative suspension. This will happen before charges are filed and certainly before conviction. This immediate loss of license is one of the more overwhelming consequences of a drunk driving arrest. As an administrative action, even if you are not finally convicted, the loss of license may stand, but you do have the option to pursue specialized driving privileges in that worst-case scenario.

Can you challenge breathalyzer or blood test results in an OWI case?

There are many ways and reasons to challenge a blood or breathalyzer test in an OWI. While these tests are scientific in nature, their veracity is not beyond refutation, given the right set or circumstances. In order for a test such as a breathalyzer or blood test to be accurate, the collection of the sample, the administering of the test, the interpretation of results and many other factors must be pristine. But rarely is anything perfectly captured.

The fact is if there is any flaw in the test that is the basis for the charges against you, it is possible to have the results thrown out. However, to do that, you will have to work with an attorney who has the understanding of the law and skill to make the right evidentiary challenges at the right time.

Is it better to plead guilty or fight a first-offense OWI charge?

As your lawyer, I cannot make the decision to plead guilty or fight the charges for you, and without knowing more about your specific situation, I cannot provide that advice. However, the difference between pleading guilty to a drunk driving charge and not is the difference between definitely losing your license and not. If you plead guilty to drunk driving, it is possible to face lesser charges, but there are mandatory factors in a sentence, which will include some loss of license. If we fight it, we may be able to avoid any unnecessary legal consequences fully.

But ultimately, it is your priorities that will guide this choice.

An Aggressive Defense For Driving Under The Influence In Central Indiana

If you have been charged with an OWI in Hamilton County or a surrounding central Indiana community, call me today at 317-516-6487 or contact me online for a free and confidential consultation about your case.