A driver in Texas can be charged with a DWI if the officer who stops them believes they are too impaired to drive because they’re under the influence of drugs or if they have a blood alcohol content (BAD) of .08 or higher. When this happens, if it’s the person’s first offense, they face up to $2,000 in fines, jail of 72 hours to 180 days and a license suspension of 90 to 365 days. This is a Class B misdemeanor. If they have a prior conviction or there are additional components to their charge, such as a DWI with a minor passenger, they face higher penalties.
A person who has been arrested and charged with a DWI might have quite a bit of evidence against them, but that doesn’t waive their right to a fair trial. Once they have the chance, they’ll want to hire a DWI attorney to work on their own case. Even if it’s quite evident they’re guilty, there is still quite a bit the attorney can do. For instance, if the person was unlawfully pulled over, the lawyer can argue that the evidence resulted from an unlawful stop and, therefore, can’t be used against them in court. This could lead to the charges being dismissed.
Without a lawyer to help, the person doesn’t have a chance to argue why the charges should be dismissed or to ask for the charges to be reduced. The judge simply isn’t going to listen to what they have to say. Their lawyer, however, can collect evidence and determine exactly what should be argued in court to help them obtain a much better outcome. This could make a significant difference in the outcome of the case and might be a difference between 72 hours in jail and 180 days in jail for a person’s first offense.
If you’ve been arrested and charged with a DWI, you don’t have time to wait. Contact Vinas & Graham today to get the help you need for your case. They’re going to be able to make a substantial difference and help you minimize the repercussions from the charge that you’re facing today. Call them now to get started quickly.
