Dallas DWI Lawyer
Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is one of the most dangerous choices you can make behind the wheel of a car. If you are pulled over and arrested on DWI charges, your future could be significantly impacted. You may end up facing severe legal penalties that involve prison time and significant fines. The aftermath of your charges can be equally devastating. A Dallas DWI lawyer can help you fight the charges against you.
The legal team at Collin County Law Group understands how devastating a DWI charge can be on your life. If convicted, you will end up with a criminal record that will follow you for the rest of your life.
At Collin County Law Group, we defend clients across North Texas, including Dallas, with aggressive, strategic DWI representation. Call 972-548-7167 now for a consultation with a proven Dallas DWI lawyer who will fight to protect your rights.
DWI Charges in Texas
The state of Texas does not take DWI charges lightly. If you are pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving and found to have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher, you will be considered legally drunk and will then be arrested. The penalties you face could be severe, especially if this is not your first offense. The court may impose a harsher sentence to set an example.
DWI Penalties
For anyone at least 18 years old who is charged with a DWI, the penalties could include:
- A maximum fine of $2,000
- A jail sentence ranging from three days to 180 days
- A complete suspension of your driver’s license for up to two years
- Having an ignition interlock device installed in your car. This device forces the driver to breathe into it to start the car. If alcohol is found in their system, the car will not start.
If you are charged a second time, the penalties increase. For a second DWI offense, you could face:
- A maximum fine of $4,000
- A jail sentence that ranges anywhere from one month to one year
- A complete suspension of your driver’s license for up to two years
- Having an ignition interlock device installed in your car.
If you are charged with a DWI for a third time, the penalties rise drastically. You could face the following penalties:
- A maximum fine of $10,000
- A prison sentence that ranges anywhere from two years to 10 years
- A complete suspension of your driver’s license for up to two years
- Mandatory enrollment in a DWI education program
- Having an ignition interlock device installed in your car
Sobriety Tests
Texas is an implied consent state, which means that by obtaining a Texas driver’s license and driving on state-funded roads, you are automatically consenting to a breathalyzer test should you be pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving. However, implied consent does not include field sobriety tests.
Breathalyzer Test
Although Texas is an implied consent state, you may refuse a breathalyzer test, but doing so carries serious consequences. If you refuse to take the breathalyzer test, your driver’s license will be suspended for 180 days.
If you refuse the test after a second or third offense, your license will be suspended for two years. Law enforcement may still arrest you for refusal and compel testing under certain circumstances.
Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests are administered by police officers if they suspect intoxication, but you can politely refuse to submit to a field sobriety test without penalty. If you agree to the test, you may then have to perform one or all of the following physical tests:
- One-Leg Stand: You must stand still and raise one leg in the air, then count out loud for 30 seconds. If you are drunk, you may be unable to maintain your balance.
- Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) Test: In this test, you will be asked to follow an object, generally a pen or the officer’s finger, with just your eyes and without turning your head. If your eyes are making involuntary, jerky movements, it’s a sign that you’re possibly intoxicated.
- Walk and Turn: You will be asked to walk in a straight line for nine steps, then turn and walk back. The steps are taken heel to toe with your arms at your side. If you lose your balance, lose your step count, or stop walking straight, the officer will assume you are drunk.
Potential Defenses Against a DWI
When you are arrested and charged with a DWI, you may be under the impression that you have already lost. That’s not the case. While being arrested can feel defeating and embarrassing, it’s not the end of your case. It’s the beginning. You should reach out to a Dallas DWI lawyer who can help you put together a sound legal strategy for your defense.
Here are some of the various ways you may be able to defend your arrest:
- Questioning the Stop: One of the first things your lawyer may do when mounting a defense is question the legality and legitimacy of the initial traffic stop. You are protected from unlawful search and seizure by the Constitution, which means that police officers must have a valid legal reason for initiating a traffic stop in the first place. If it’s learned that there was no probable cause, it may render all other evidence inadmissible.
- Challenging the Test: If improperly stored or wrongly administered, the officer could get a false result that claims you are drunk when you are not. Your lawyer may challenge the validity of the test.
Protect Your License with an ALR Hearing
After a DWI arrest, you have 15 days to request an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing to fight the suspension of your driver’s license. If you don’t act fast, your license could be automatically suspended—even before your court date.
We handle both the ALR hearing and the criminal case to give you the strongest possible defense on all fronts.
Contact a Dallas DWI Lawyer Today
When you are facing DWI charges, you may be unaware of what to do next. You should reach out to Collin County Law Group for help. Our team has over 100 years of combined legal experience at your disposal.
Reach out to us at 972-548-7167 or contact us online to speak to someone about your case.
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Allen, TX, 75013
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