Indiana OWI Defense Attorney

An OWI arrest does not automatically mean the State can prove its case.


Being arrested for Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) is frightening. You may be worried about going to jail, losing your driver's license, keeping your job, or explaining the arrest to your family.


Those concerns are real.


But an arrest is not a conviction.


Every OWI case should begin with a careful analysis of the evidence—not assumptions about what will happen.


For more than three decades, I have represented clients charged with OWI throughout Central Indiana. My approach is built on careful legal analysis, honest advice, and developing the strategy that gives each client the best opportunity for the best possible outcome.


Sometimes that means aggressively challenging the State's evidence through motions and trial. Sometimes it means negotiating a practical resolution that better protects a client's future.

The key is understanding which strategy best serves your interests.

Every OWI Case Begins With Questions

Before discussing plea offers or trial, I want answers to the questions that often determine whether the State can prove its case.


For example:

  • Was the traffic stop lawful?
  • Did the officer actually have reasonable suspicion to stop your vehicle?
  • Were the field sobriety tests administered correctly?
  • Was the chemical test performed according to Indiana law?
  • Were your constitutional rights respected?
  • Can important evidence be suppressed?


Many successful OWI defenses begin by identifying problems with the investigation long before anyone walks into a courtroom. That is where experience matters.

Common Issues That Can Affect an OWI Case

Every case is different, but some of the most important issues include:


  • Illegal traffic stops
  • Improper administration of field sobriety tests
  • Breath test or blood test issues
  • Problems with chemical testing procedures
  • Medical conditions that affect testing
  • Violations of constitutional rights
  • Inconsistent police reports or testimony
  • Lack of evidence establishing impairment


Finding one significant issue can fundamentally change the direction of a case.

Understanding Indiana OWI Charges

Indiana law recognizes several different OWI offenses, including:

  • Operating While Intoxicated
  • Operating with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher
  • Operating with a controlled substance in your system
  • OWI causing serious bodily injury
  • OWI causing death
  • Felony OWI based upon prior convictions

The penalties depend on many factors, including your prior record, your blood alcohol concentration, whether an accident occurred, and whether anyone was injured.


The charge alone does not determine the outcome.


The facts do.

Protecting Your Driver's License

For many clients, protecting the ability to drive is just as important as defending the criminal charge.

An OWI arrest may result in:

  • Administrative license suspension
  • Court-ordered suspension
  • Ignition interlock requirements
  • Specialized Driving Privileges
  • Habitual Traffic Violator consequences
  • Habitual Vehicular Substance Offender enhancements

Every situation is different. Early action often creates more opportunities to protect your driving privileges.

Honest Advice Matters

One of the biggest mistakes people make after an OWI arrest is believing either that the case is hopeless—or that it is an easy dismissal.


Neither assumption helps.


My responsibility is not to tell you what you want to hear. My responsibility is to evaluate your case honestly, explain its strengths and weaknesses, and recommend the strategy that best protects your future.

If your case should be challenged aggressively, I will explain why.


If a negotiated resolution truly serves your interests better than prolonged litigation, I will tell you that as well.


The best defense is not measured by how long a case lasts. It is measured by whether the strategy serves the client.

Why Clients Choose Brian Johnson

Clients facing OWI charges deserve more than someone who simply appears with them in court.

They deserve an attorney who will:


  • Carefully analyze every aspect of the investigation.
  • Challenge unconstitutional stops and unlawful police conduct.
  • Examine chemical testing procedures and forensic evidence.
  • Explain the law in straightforward language.
  • Prepare thoroughly for hearings and trial.
  • Develop a strategy based on the facts—not assumptions.


Every recommendation is made with one objective:Achieving the best possible outcome for the client.

Act Early to Protect Your Rights

Important decisions are made quickly after an OWI arrest.


Evidence must be preserved. License issues should be addressed promptly. Witnesses become harder to locate as time passes.


The sooner an experienced OWI defense attorney becomes involved, the more opportunities there may be to protect your rights and build an effective defense.


If you have been arrested for Operating While Intoxicated in Indiana, contact Brian J Johnson Law LLC today.



Call (317) 718-7000 to speak directly with Brian Johnson about your case.