Having a driver’s license is critically important for many people. Being unable to drive because of a DWI conviction—even for a short period of time—can turn your life upside down. An Allen DWI marijuana lawyer from the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg may be able to help you avoid a devastating conviction.
Call us at (214) 696-9253 for a free evaluation of your case.
What You Should Know About Marijuana and DWI in Texas
A brief overview of the laws and penalties that may come into play in DWI marijuana cases in Texas can help you bolster your understanding of the legal battle that lies ahead of you.
Marijuana
You may have seen news headlines about how some states are eliminating or easing their recreational marijuana laws. Texas is not one of those states. The Texas Controlled Substances Act makes it illegal to possess even a small amount of marijuana—let alone drive while high.
The penalties for being caught with marijuana depend on how much you were caught with. However, you can expect to face a fine and a prison sentence.
Marijuana and Driving
Using marijuana before or while driving may impact your ability to drive safely. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), no one knows for sure to what extent marijuana increases your chances of getting into an accident—or even if it does at all.
However, marijuana can stay in a user’s system for a long time after use. This drug is also known to affect coordination and reaction time. It is therefore reasonable to assume that using marijuana can impair a person’s ability to drive safely. For that reason, if you are caught driving under the influence, the police may press charges against you.
The Texas Department of Public Safety states that if a police officer has reason to suspect that a driver is under the influence, they have the right to stop the driver and administer a sobriety test. You could go to jail for refusal to take the test—or you were drinking alcohol in addition to using marijuana.
This consequence also applies if a test showed that your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was above the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
DWI Convictions Have Serious Consequences
In Texas, the penalties for driving while intoxicated can be life-altering. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, your first DWI conviction is punishable by
- The suspension of your license for up to 1 year,
- A fine of no more than $2,000, and
- A prison sentence of anywhere from 3 to 180 days.
The penalties get more and more severe with every subsequent conviction—the jail sentences get longer, the fines get more onerous, and the length of time your license is suspended doubles. Having a child or an open container of alcohol in the car with you could result in additional fines or charges.
You may continue to face repercussions from a DWI conviction after serving your sentence. A criminal record is often accessible to the public. Everyone from potential employers and landlords may be able to see your record. These people may decide how or even if they want to interact with you based on this information.
It is not fair or right, but some people look down on those with convictions, even if they have served their time.
Chapter 55 of the Code of Criminal Procedure makes it very difficult—if not impossible—to expunge your criminal record. Conviction of a DWI could impact the rest of your life. The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg wants to prevent that from happening to you.
Contact our office at (214) 696-9253. Someone is always available to take your call, day or night. Also, the initial consultation is free.
How an Allen DWI Marijuana Lawyer Can Help You
Everyone is entitled to legal representation under national law. But not all legal representation is created equal. You deserve a lawyer who will pour everything into your defense. The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg has helped people just like you get their charges reduced or dismissed. Here is what we have done for others and what we may be able to do for you.
Evaluate Your Case
We charge nothing for our evaluation services. Just call our team. We will tell you if and how we can help, at no obligation to you.
Investigate the Case Against You
Law enforcement can and does make mistakes. We will scrutinize every action they took against you and gather evidence from other sources, such as surveillance video. If we find any procedural errors, we can use that to get the charges dropped, saving you from having your record (and your life) permanently affected by a DWI conviction.
Argue for a Reduced Charge
If we cannot get the charges dismissed, there is still hope. We can argue for a lesser, non-drug-related charge that will not require the suspension of your license, even if you are convicted. This will save you the time, money, and worry associated with trying to continue your daily routine without a license.
Represent You to the Fullest
Randall B. Isenberg worked as a prosecutor and as a state district judge before opening his own law firm. He has over 30 years of experience in law. He heads our firm, so when you hire our team, you can rest assured that we will do everything in our power to achieve the best possible outcome in your case.
DWI charges can have serious consequences. We understand how a conviction can negatively impact you and your family. We want to help you get your life back. Let an Allen DWI marijuana lawyer from the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg defend your rights.
Call us at (214) 696-9253 for a free evaluation of your case.
