In this article, you can discover… What to expect legally after a first-time DWI in Texas. Whether or not it is possible to avoid jail time. How an experienced attorney can help you in light of a first-time DWI. How Does The Court Handle First-Time DWI Offenders In Texas? In Texas, a first-time DWI will be either a class A or a class B misdemeanor, so long as no one else was seriously hurt or died in the incident. If you have a blood alcohol level below 0.15%, your first DWI is a class B misdemeanor, which can result in up to six months in jail and a $2,000 fine if you are convicted. If you are arrested for a DWI for the first time and your blood alcohol level is above 0.15%, this is a class A misdemeanor. A conviction could result in up to one year in jail and a fine of up…Read More
In this article, you can discover… The documents you’ll need to gather before filing for a divorce. The next steps after a divorce petition is filed. How an experienced attorney can help you with the process of divorce. How Do I Prepare For A Divorce In Texas? Filing for a divorce is never an easy decision. But once you have made the decision to end a marriage, it is helpful to have a clear picture of your finances, shared assets, and debts. Before you meet with your attorney, be prepared to talk about the assets that you and your spouse share together, including bank accounts, retirement accounts, pensions, 401ks, stocks, and any property or land that you obtained during the marriage. You should also be prepared to talk about community debts such as credit card statements, mortgages, and any loans on vehicles. If you have children, you should start thinking about your children’s daily lives…Read More
Why You Might Get Pulled Over—And What To Do If It Happens In Texas, police generally need a warrant to detain or arrest someone, but there are exceptions—especially when an officer witnesses an offense firsthand. This means that if you commit even the smallest traffic violation, an officer has the right to pull you over. Some common reasons include: Speeding Failing to maintain a single lane Not signaling 100 feet before a turn Rolling through or stopping just past a stop line Any other minor traffic infraction If you are pulled over, knowing what to expect can make a big difference. First, the officer will ask for your driver’s license and proof of insurance. Then, they will likely engage you in conversation—sometimes friendly, sometimes more probing. If the officer smells alcohol on your breath or suspects you are impaired based on any erratic driving behavior, they will ask you to step out of the vehicle…Read More
What Happens After A DWI Arrest In Texas? If you are arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Texas, it’s important to remain calm and understand the next steps. Here’s what you can expect: Blood Or Breath Sample Collection If you haven't voluntarily provided a breath or blood sample, the officer can request a warrant to obtain a blood sample. Depending on your location, the officer may take you to a hospital or another facility for the blood draw. Booking And Jail After the blood sample is collected, whether voluntarily or by warrant, you will likely be taken to jail. There, you will appear before a magistrate, who will set a bond amount. Once the bond is set, most people are able to pay it and secure their release until the trial. Release From Jail Upon release, you will receive several important documents: Bond paperwork outlining the terms of your release. A notice of suspension…Read More
How Long You Can Expect To Have Your License Suspended For A DWI arrest usually leads to a driver's license suspension, though the length and cause of the suspension depend largely on the details of the arrest. When you’re suspected of driving while intoxicated, the officer will review a statutory warning with you, often referred to as the DIC-24 form. This form outlines your legal obligation to submit a chemical sample and explains the consequences of refusing to comply. If You Provide A Sample & Have No Recent SuspensionsVoluntarily providing a breath or blood sample (even if it indicates a BAC over 0.08%) results in a 90-day license suspension if you haven’t had an administrative license suspension for a DWI within the last ten years. If You Refuse To Provide A SampleDeclining to provide a sample leads to a 180-day suspension, even without any previous license suspensions in the past ten years. If You Have…Read More
A DWI Conviction Stays On Your Record For Life A DWI conviction can have lasting consequences, as it stays on your record permanently. This is why it’s so important to treat DWI charges seriously and fight them with every available option. While it’s possible in rare cases to get a non-disclosure order to seal parts of your record, the conviction itself remains visible and can impact your life indefinitely. Once on your record, a DWI will show up on background checks for the rest of your life, which can make finding future employment difficult and could even put your current job at risk. Will Your Employer Be Notified Of A DWI Conviction? In most cases, your employer won’t automatically be informed of your DWI arrest or conviction. However, if you work in certain fields—like law enforcement or corrections—they’ll be notified, as those roles require disclosure. Some employers also have contracts requiring employees to report any…Read More
The Key Differences Between Misdemeanor And Felony DWIs In Texas In Texas, first and second DWI offenses are usually treated as misdemeanors, while a third or subsequent offense becomes a felony. Here’s how these charges differ and what each means in terms of potential penalties. First-Time DWI (Class B Misdemeanor)If you’re arrested for a DWI and your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is below 0.15%, you’re generally charged with a Class B misdemeanor. This carries penalties of up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. DWI With BAC Over 0.15% & Second-Time DWI (Class A Misdemeanor)If your BAC is above 0.15% or this is your second DWI arrest, the charge becomes a Class A misdemeanor. Penalties increase to up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000. Third-Time DWI (Third-Degree Felony)A third DWI offense is considered a third-degree felony in Texas. This brings the potential for up…Read More
How To Challenge The Reason For Your DWI Traffic Stop In Texas In a DWI case, one of the most crucial points to examine is the initial traffic stop. We start by asking why the officer pulled you over because the state must show that the stop was legally justified. If the officer lacked probable cause for the detention, we can argue that key evidence—such as field sobriety tests, officer observations, and BAC results—should be suppressed. Without this evidence, the state often has no foundation to pursue the case, which can lead to a complete dismissal of charges. The Key Pieces Of Evidence Against You When stopped, several important pieces of evidence are typically gathered after the initial detention, including: Observations of alcohol on your breath, Results of field sobriety tests administered after you exit the vehicle, Results of any blood or breath tests requested during the stop. The reason for your stop also affects…Read More
What To Expect During Your First Strategy Session With Us When I meet a client for the first time, one of the first questions I’ll ask is, “How will a DWI affect you?” This helps me understand what’s at stake for you personally and professionally, so I can better shape your defense strategy. Here are some key areas we’ll discuss: Are you concerned about losing your job? Do you have school or academic plans that could be impacted? How important is it to protect future employment opportunities? Is there a risk of disciplinary action or expulsion from school? Are you involved in any ongoing or upcoming custody cases? Are you going through a divorce? By learning upfront how a DWI case may impact your life, we can take steps to minimize potential consequences – but that’s not where the conversation ends. We’ll also talk about the details of the traffic stop that led to your…Read More
We see it all the time on tv. A person is arrested for a crime, usually a serious one (like murder), and despite all the evidence against the individual, the case is dismissed because a police officer forgot to read the Miranda rights to the person. On the tv show, the lawyer tells the judge and the judge immediately dismisses the case and the person walks away with their freedom. Now you, a friend or loved one has been arrested for Driving While Intoxicated in Texas and the officer did not read the Miranda warnings. Now you are wondering if the case will be dismissed as seen on tv. In this article I will explain what the Miranda warnings are and help answer the question if a DWI case will be dismissed in Texas because an officer did not read the Miranda Warnings. What Are My Miranda Rights? In the case Miranda v. Arizona, the…Read More
