Pasadena DWI Attorney

A first-offense DWI is a Class B misdemeanor carrying up to 180 days in jail and a fine up to $2,000, but the real financial hit often comes from a separate court-assessed “super fine.” Since the old DPS surcharge program was repealed in 2019, Texas now imposes an additional $3,000 traffic fine on conviction, or $6,000 if your BAC was 0.15 or higher. On top of that, expect increased insurance rates and a permanent criminal record if convicted.

Refusing a test results in a longer license suspension, 180 days versus 90 days for a failed test, and does not prevent the State from getting your blood. In Harris County, law enforcement regularly obtains blood warrants, especially during no-refusal weekends when prosecutors and judges are available around the clock to approve them. Whether you submitted or refused, both scenarios have defenses worth evaluating with an attorney.

Yes, if the officer lacked reasonable suspicion to stop your vehicle, evidence gathered during that stop may be suppressed. That can include field sobriety test results, officer observations, and chemical test results. Without that evidence, the State often cannot proceed with the case.

Standardized Field Sobriety Tests have a documented margin of error and must be administered in a valid way to be used in court. Factors like road surface, lighting, footwear, and medical conditions can all affect performance, and none of that has anything to do with alcohol. If the officer deviated from proper procedure, that is a challengeable issue in your case.

A standard DWI has generally not been classified as a deportable offense under federal immigration law. However, certain aggravating factors or subsequent conditions could create major immigration issues. If you are not a U.S. citizen, these issues should be addressed early and ideally with input from an immigration attorney.

Permanently, unless you take legal action. There is no automatic removal after a set number of years in Texas. Qualified first-time offenders can petition to have the record sealed through an Order of Nondisclosure, but only after a waiting period of two years if an ignition interlock was part of your sentence, or five years if it was not.

It depends on how the case resolves. A DWI conviction cannot be expunged in Texas, but if your case is dismissed or you are found not guilty at trial, you can apply for a DWI expunction. A nondisclosure order, which seals the record from public background checks, is available to eligible first-time offenders under the Texas Second Chance Law, though it does not apply if your BAC was 0.15 or higher or if the arrest involved an accident with another person.

Yes, for eligible first-time offenders. Harris County operates a DWI Pre-Trial Intervention Program that allows qualifying defendants to earn a dismissal by completing an intensive program that is similar to probation. To qualify, your BAC generally cannot exceed 0.15, you cannot have prior criminal history, and the arrest cannot involve a serious accident. Successful completion results in dismissal and eventual eligibility for full expungement.