Facing a conviction for driving while intoxicated (DWI) can lead to severe consequences that can greatly impact your life. The penalties can include jail time, substantial fines amounting to thousands of dollars, revoked driving privileges, and the possibility of probation and community service. Without a Frisco criminal defense lawyer, the chances of having a permanent, public criminal record increases.
The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg employs a former chief felony prosecutor as part of our team of successful Frisco DWI lawyers who can help you fight for justice. Our experienced attorneys offer a free, no-obligation consultation and case review to help you understand and explore your legal options.
Potential Penalties of Frisco DWI Charges
Depending on the circumstances of your drunk driving arrest, you could face criminal charges ranging from a Class B misdemeanor to a first-degree felony.
The potential penalties for each classification of charges are as follows:
- Class B Misdemeanor: Up to six months in jail, $2,000 fine, one-year suspension of your driver’s license
- Class A Misdemeanor: Up to one year in jail, $4,000 fine, two-year suspension of your driver’s license
- Third-Degree Felony: Two to 10 years in prison, $10,000 fine, two-year suspension of your driver’s license
- Second-Degree Felony: Two to 20 years in prison, $10,000 fine, two-year suspension of your driver’s license
- First-Degree Felony: Up to 99 years in prison, $10,000 fine, two-year suspension of your driver’s license
The court may compel you to perform community service, install an ignition interlock device on your vehicles, serve supervised probation, and attend alcohol treatment or even rehab.
Turn to a DWI Lawyer in Frisco, TX for Help
The Frisco DWI lawyers at the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg understand how serious your situation is and how important it is to fight the charges pending against you. We fight to defend your legal rights, standing by your side throughout the process.
Our services to you include:
Investigating and Documenting Your Case
We put our resources to work on your case, investigating and documenting every detail. Our comprehensive investigation seeks to identify all potential problems with your case, including violations of your legal rights and errors made during your arrest and processing.
Identifying Legal Defense Strategies
Our legal team will analyze the details of your case, based on our investigation. Using this information, we will develop appropriate legal strategies for your defense.
Negotiating With the Prosecutor
Our primary goal is to get your DWI reduced or dropped. Based on our investigation, we negotiate with the prosecutor and, if appropriate, file legal motions to have evidence disallowed in your case. If we cannot negotiate an acceptable deal with the prosecution, we have extensive trial experience and will prepare your defense for court.
Handling the DMV License Suspension Hearing
In addition to managing the criminal aspect of your case, we also represent you for the driver’s license suspension procedure. This allows us to make a legal argument against license suspension and, through evidence obtained in this process, potentially strengthen your criminal defense.
FAQs for DWI Offenders
If you have been charged with a DWI in Frisco, Texas, it is important to understand the legal process and your rights. Here are some frequently asked questions for those facing a Texas DWI:
What Is Considered As Legally Drunk in Texas?
In Texas, the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08 percent for individuals who are of legal drinking age (21 years and older). If your BAC exceeds this limit while operating a motor vehicle, you are considered legally drunk.
Texas has a zero-tolerance policy for drivers under the age of 21. For individuals under the legal drinking age, any detectable amount of alcohol in their system while driving can result in serious consequences. Additionally, Texas has enhanced penalties for individuals with a BAC of 0.15 percent or higher, which is referred to as “high-BAC” or “extreme DWI.”
How Much Does It Cost to Get Your Driver’s License Back After a DWI?
To get your driver’s license reinstated after your suspension, you must pay a fee of up to $2,000 per year for three years. There are also administrative fees and other fines associated with reinstating your driver’s license after a DWI.
Will My Car Insurance Rate Increase After a DWI in Texas?
After a drunk driving offense, such as a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated), it is highly likely that your car insurance rates will increase in Texas. Insurance companies consider a DWI conviction as a significant risk factor, leading to higher premiums for individuals with such offenses on their record.
In addition, some insurers may choose to cancel your policy altogether or refuse to renew it once it expires. This means you may have to seek coverage from a different insurance company that specializes in high-risk drivers, such as SR-22 insurance which typically involves higher premiums.
What Makes a DWI a Go From a Misdemeanor to a Felony in Texas?
If it is your first or second offense, a DWI charge is typically prosecuted as a misdemeanor. Felony charges are generally reserved for third-time offenders or aggravating circumstances like a DWI with an adolescent under 15 years old present or causing an accident that results in severe bodily injury or a fatality.
Can I Refuse to Take a Field Sobriety Test?
Texas operates under the implied consent law. This means that by driving on Texas roads, you are deemed to have given consent to a blood test if you are lawfully arrested on suspicion of DWI. Refusing to take a blood test in Texas can have serious consequences.
If you refuse a blood test, your driver’s license can be automatically suspended for a period of time, even if you are not ultimately convicted of a DWI.
How Much Does a DWI Lawyer Cost in Frisco?
The cost of hiring a DWI lawyer in Frisco can vary depending on factors such as their experience, location, and the complexity of your case. Generally, DWI lawyers charge either an hourly rate or a flat fee for their legal services. Hourly rates range from $150 to $500 or more, while flat fees cover the entire case.
Factors like prior convictions or aggravating circumstances may increase the fees for legal representation. Some lawyers may require a retainer upfront while others allow payment plans or alternative fee arrangements.
It’s important to discuss fees during the initial consultation. While there are expenses involved, the help of a criminal justice lawyer can help minimize the potential long-term consequences of a DWI conviction, making it a worthwhile investment.
Potential DWI Legal Defense Strategies
Our legal team will identify appropriate defense strategies based on the facts and evidence of your case. However, some of the most effective strategies we use are as follows:
Lack of Reasonable Suspicion
The police must have reasonable suspicion before pulling you over. This means they must reasonably suspect you committed a crime. If officers did not have reasonable suspicion, the traffic stop may have been illegal.
Lack of Probable Cause
The police must determine that you were legally intoxicated at the time of your traffic stop. If officers fail to establish probable cause for your arrest, we may successfully have breath or blood testing evidence declared inadmissible in court.
Inaccurate Testing or Improper Testing
Depending on whether the police subjected you to blood or breath testing for BAC, we may have grounds to challenge the accuracy of the results. For example, breathalyzer testing can produce inaccurate results if you take certain medications or consume certain substances.
A Frisco DWI lawyer before providing any statements or agreeing to a plea bargain offer even if it seems like the prosecutor may have persuasive evidence against you.
If the prosecutor agrees to waive or reduce your jail sentence, you will still have to pay the fines and serve any other penalties the court imposes (probation, community service, etc.). And you will still have a permanent criminal record, along with all the implications it carries.
Choosing a DWI Lawyer in Frisco, TX
The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg provides aggressive DWI defense for clients facing drunk driving charges in Frisco.
Randall Isenberg is our lead attorney and has more than three decades of experience, as a judge, felony prosecutor, and criminal defense attorney. We put that knowledge and insight to work on your behalf, helping us build the most robust, most persuasive defense possible.
Attorney Isenberg has earned a variety of designations, which include:
- Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- Criminal Defense Certification
- National Board of Trial Advocacy Certified Criminal Defense Advocate
- Named one of Texas Monthly Magazine’s “Top Texas Lawyers” and “Texas Super Lawyers”
- Listed as one of Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
Do not trust your future and your freedom to chance. Our dedicated attorneys will work tirelessly on your behalf, using our experience, insight, and proven legal defense strategies.
Board Certified in Criminal Defense for Frisco DWI Charges
Take advantage of the free consultation and case review offered by a former state district judge at the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg. We will help you understand the serious charges you face and help you choose the best option for you.
