DWI Defense Attorney Dallas TX for First Offense Charges

Friday nights on Lower Greenville Avenue usually end with a short drive home, often up Central Expressway toward Northwest Highway. For some people that drive ends on the shoulder of US-75 with a patrol car behind them, a set of roadside tests and a first DWI charge they never saw coming. Dallas DWI Lawyers spends much of its time with people in exactly this position. Most have no record, have never been inside Lew Sterrett Justice Center, and simply want to know what a first offense means more info for their job and their license. Texas Penal Code 49.04 defines intoxicated in two ways. One is a breath or blood Dallas DWI Lawyers alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more. The other is losing the normal use of your mental or physical faculties, which means an officer can file a charge with no test result at all. A standard first DWI is a Class B misdemeanor carrying 72 hours to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. An open container raises the minimum to six days. A result of 0.15 or higher makes it a Class A misdemeanor, with up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000. Those figures mark the range the law allows, and where a case lands depends on the facts and how they are tested. First-offense cases are heard in the County Criminal Courts at the Frank Crowley Courts Building.

Dallas DWI Lawyers | 325 North St Paul Street, Suite 3100, Dallas, TX 75201 | (945) 403-4331

The firm prepares a first DWI the same way it would prepare a case headed for a jury. That starts with the stop. An officer on Central Expressway needs reasonable suspicion to pull you over, and a vague note about drifting inside a lane is something a DWI defense attorney will want to compare against the dash camera footage. The arrest itself requires probable cause, so the team looks at how the field sobriety tests were given, whether the instructions were clear, and whether the body camera video matches the written report. Breath and blood results get the same close reading. A second case runs alongside the criminal one. The Administrative License Revocation process through DPS can suspend your license on its own timeline, and you have only 15 days from receiving notice to request a hearing. On the criminal side, a 2019 change means deferred adjudication can be available for some first-time DWI cases, though not where the result was 0.15 or above or the driver holds a commercial license. Some first-offense cases may later qualify for an order of nondisclosure. Expunction is generally limited to cases that end in dismissal, acquittal or a no-bill, which is why the goal of the defense matters from day one. Call or text Dallas DWI Lawyers at (945) 403-4331, 24/7, for a free case evaluation. The office is at 325 North St Paul Street in the Republic Center tower downtown, close to the DART St. Paul station, and the team can talk through your first offense in English, Spanish, Russian or Ukrainian.

Dallas DWI Lawyers Address: 325 North St Paul Street, Suite 3100, Dallas, TX 75201 Phone: (945) 403-4331 FAQ About DWI Defense Attorney in Dallas How much is a DWI lawyer in Texas? Fees depend on whether the case is a first offense misdemeanor or a felony, whether there is an ALR hearing to fight, and whether the case goes to trial. Dallas DWI Lawyers starts with a free case evaluation so you can hear what your specific case involves before you commit to anything. Call or text (945) 403-4331 to set one up. What happens after a DWI arrest in Dallas? Most people arrested in Dallas are booked at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center and released on bond, often with conditions such as an ignition interlock. Misdemeanor DWI cases then move through the County Criminal Courts at the Frank Crowley Courts Building, while a separate license suspension case starts with DPS. The team at Dallas DWI Lawyers deals with both tracks from the first call. How long do I have to request an ALR hearing in Texas? The request must be made within 15 days of receiving notice of the license suspension, which is usually the day of the arrest. Missing that window means the suspension can take effect without a hearing. Dallas DWI Lawyers files ALR requests and represents drivers at the hearing, so call (945) 403-4331 as early as you can. Is a first DWI a felony in Texas? A standard first DWI is a Class B misdemeanor with a minimum of 72 hours and up to 180 days in jail, and a fine of up to $2,000. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if a test shows 0.15 or more, and it can be a state jail felony if a passenger under 15 was in the car. Our downtown Dallas office on St Paul Street handles every level of these charges. Can a DWI be dismissed in Texas? Dismissals do happen, usually when the stop lacked reasonable suspicion, the arrest lacked probable cause, or the breath or blood evidence has problems. No lawyer can promise a dismissal, but Dallas DWI Lawyers prepares each case as if it is going to trial and reviews the video, reports and lab records for weak points. Should I refuse a breath test in Texas? Texas is an implied consent state, so a refusal can bring a license suspension of at least 180 days and can be mentioned at trial. Officers can also get a blood warrant, especially during Dallas County no refusal weekends. Every situation is different, so talk to a DWI defense attorney about how a refusal affects your own case. Can I still drive after a DWI arrest in Dallas? Usually yes, at least for a short time, because the suspension does not start right away and a timely ALR request can hold it off until the hearing. If a suspension does take effect, an occupational license may let you drive to work, school and essential errands. Dallas DWI Lawyers helps with both, starting with a call to (945) 403-4331. How long does a DWI stay on your record in Texas? A DWI conviction stays on your Texas criminal record permanently unless the law gives you a way to seal or clear it. Some first-offense cases may qualify for nondisclosure, and expunction is generally limited to dismissals, acquittals and no-bills. The firm can review your eligibility during a free case evaluation. What makes a DWI a felony in Texas? A DWI becomes a felony with two prior intoxication convictions, a passenger under 15, a serious injury (intoxication assault) or a death (intoxication manslaughter). These carry prison ranges from 180 days in a state jail up to 20 years. Managing Attorney Gary L. Medlin has been Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1989. Do I need a lawyer for a first DWI in Texas? You are not required to have one, but a first DWI can still mean jail time, fines, a license suspension and a permanent record. A lawyer can challenge the stop and the testing, and may be able to pursue options such as deferred adjudication where the law allows it. Dallas DWI Lawyers answers calls and texts 24/7 at (945) 403-4331. Can a DWI be reduced to a lesser charge in Texas? In some cases, problems with the evidence lead prosecutors to offer a reduced charge such as obstructing a highway or reckless driving. Whether that is possible depends on the facts, the test results and your history. Attorneys at Dallas DWI Lawyers include former prosecutors who understand how those decisions get made in Dallas County. What is the difference between a DWI and a DUI in Texas? In Texas, DWI is the charge for adults who are intoxicated while driving, while DUI is a Class C charge for drivers under 21 with any detectable amount of alcohol. A young driver can face either charge depending on the evidence. Dallas DWI Lawyers defends underage drivers from SMU, University Park and across Dallas.