Every year, thousands of Texans are stopped and investigated for DWI. The safest course of action is to never drink and drive. But if you choose to drink alcohol before driving, which is perfectly legal, it is important to understand the basics of DWI in Texas, what you can expect during a traffic stop, and…
Category: DWI
How Soon After An Arrest Do I Need to Hire a DWI Attorney?
Getting arrested for DWI can be an extremely stressful experience. Soon after your arrest, your mailbox will likely be full of ads from criminal defense lawyers trying to offer their services. You may even be receiving text messages (which is an ethically questionable practice) from less reputable criminal defense attorneys sometimes claiming terrible things will…
Do You Need an Attorney for a DWI Case?
If you have been arrested for DWI, and have no experience in the criminal justice system, one question you may have is whether you need a DWI attorney at all. After all, many people successfully represent themselves on traffic ticket cases. This article discusses the top 3 reasons you should absolutely hire an experienced DWI…
Can Medical Conditions Lead to a Wrongful DWI Arrest?
If you’ve been arrested for DWI in Houston, it’s easy to feel like the case against you is airtight—especially if an officer claimed you showed signs of intoxication like slurred speech or unsteady balance. But what many people don’t realize is that medical and neurological conditions can mimic the exact same symptoms that officers look…
How Much Does Getting a DWI Cost?
The financial costs of a DWI in Houston can be steep. In Harris County and the Greater Houston area, probation fees, court costs, interlock rental fees, probation fees, attorney’s fees, and increased car insurance rates can quickly add up to a small fortune. Indeed, the best way to minimize the financial impact of a DWI…
Can You Get a Breath Test Thrown Out After a DWI Arrest in Houston?
If you were arrested for DWI in Houston, the breath test results play a significant role in the prosecution’s case against you. However, breath tests are not always accurate, and in some cases, the results can be challenged and suppressed—meaning they cannot be used against you in court. Understanding the legal grounds for suppressing a…
What to expect after a third DWI arrest in Houston?
In Texas, punishments for DWIs increase dramatically after each arrest. The first two DWIs are charged as misdemeanors, but a third or more DWI will be charged as a felony in Texas, with the potential for prison time, lengthy driver’s license suspensions, longer probation and a permanent felony record. If you have been arrested for…
Can you be arrested for DWI in Texas if you weren’t driving?
More often than you would think, police in Texas arrest a driver and charge him with DWI when he was not actually driving a car. This can happen when a driver is asleep behind the wheel or if the police do not actually witness the defendant driving and make an arrest based on mistaken assumptions…
Will I Be Required to Obtain an Interlock Device After a DWI in Houston?
One common consequence of a DWI in Texas and the Houston area is a requirement that you obtain an ignition interlock device. An ignition interlock device is a device that a driver has to blow into prior to turning on the car, and may “lock” the car if it detects alcohol on the driver’s breath. …
What if you had no choice but to drive drunk? The defense of necessity in driving while intoxicated (DWI) cases in Texas.
Texas law contains several defenses that have been approved by the legislature and made a part of Texas law – so-called statutory defenses. Examples of statutory defenses are self-defense, duress or entrapment. Even if you engaged in conduct that amounts to a criminal offense, a statutory defense could be used to find a defendant “not…
