CDL & Commercial Driver OWI
An OWI with a CDL puts your livelihood on the line.
For a commercial driver the criminal case is only part of the problem. Free, confidential consultation with attorney Trampas Whalin.
- Over 15 years of Indiana practice
- Former public defender
- Free, confidential consultation
- You speak with the attorney
Tell us what happened
Confidential. No obligation. Attorney Whalin reviews every message.
Why the timing matters
An OWI arrest starts two cases, not one.
For a commercial driver, an OWI arrest affects more than the criminal docket. The charge, your driving privileges, and your ability to work each move on their own timeline.
Track one
The criminal charge
Moves through the Hamilton County courts
Initial hearing, pretrial, and resolution. The same evidence questions apply as in any OWI case: the stop, the field sobriety testing, the chemical test, and the certifications behind it.
Track two — moves faster
Your driving privileges
Move through the BMV, on their own schedule
Because the consequences for a commercial driver are handled separately from the criminal case, it is worth reviewing your specific license and employment situation early rather than after the first hearing.
Where we start
The criminal case still turns on the same evidence
Whatever license you hold, an OWI case is won or lost in the details, and most of them are on the front end.
We look at why you were stopped, how field sobriety testing was conducted, whether the chemical test was administered within the window Indiana allows, and whether the equipment and the operator were properly certified. When those details do not hold up, the case changes.
Because your certification and your employment are affected separately from the criminal charge, the first conversation should cover your specific situation rather than a general answer. Attorney Whalin will give you an honest read on where you stand before you commit to anything.
The attorney on your case
You get Trampas Whalin.
Not an associate, not a case manager. He started out as a public defender, which is where trial lawyers learn the work: real cases, real hearings, and a close view of how the state builds a file.
More than fifteen years on, he has defended adults and juveniles across Indiana on everything from a first OWI to the most serious felonies, securing dismissals, diversion agreements, and not guilty verdicts at jury trial. He has lived in Noblesville since 2010, and your case will move through the same courtrooms, judges, and prosecutors he works with every week.
- Over 15 years of Indiana practice
- Former public defender Where trial lawyers learn the work
- President Hamilton County Bar Association
- Indiana Rising Stars Selected by Super Lawyers
- 10.0 rating Avvo
- Federal admissions N.D. and S.D. Indiana
Bring these to the call
What to have ready
Whether you drive a truck, a bus, or another commercial vehicle, the more precise the picture, the more useful the first conversation will be.
- The class of license and endorsements you hold
- Whether you were driving a commercial vehicle at the time of the stop
- Any notice you have received from the BMV
- Your employer reporting requirements
- Your charging information and court date
- Any prior driving or criminal history
“Trampas was open and honest with me from the very beginning, giving me realistic expectations and opinions about the potential outcome of my case. He was focused and thorough. He represented me as though I were his only client.”
— Stephanie, Whalin Legal client
Every case is different. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case, and no representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. This client statement reflects one person’s experience and is not a promise of any particular result.
Common questions
Answered plainly
The evidence questions are the same ones that apply in any Indiana OWI case: the reason for the stop, how field sobriety testing was conducted, whether the chemical test was administered within the window Indiana allows, and whether the equipment and the operator were properly certified.
Call before your first court date. Consultations are free, and the sooner the specifics of your license and your employment are on the table, the more useful the advice will be.
Consultations are free. Contact us today and we will discuss what you are facing and what representation would involve before you make any commitment.
We regularly appear in the Hamilton County courts in Noblesville and represent clients in Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, and Indianapolis. Attorney Whalin is admitted in Indiana state courts and in the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana.
Attorney Trampas Whalin. Not an associate, not a case manager. You speak directly with the attorney handling your case from the first conversation.
Talk to the firm
Your case, your license, and your work are separate problems. Start with a conversation.
Whalin Legal represents clients in Noblesville, Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, Indianapolis, and courts throughout Indiana.
Call or send a message to schedule a free, confidential consultation. You will speak with the attorney who will handle your case.
Request a free consultation
Confidential. No obligation.