If you have been arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI), know your rights. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty, and everyone is entitled to legal representation.
To get a Waxahachie DWI lawyer on your side, call the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg at (214) 696-9253. We can explain your options during a free consultation. Then, if you choose to hire us, we will work to protect your civil rights and secure your freedom.
Driving While Intoxicated Is Against the Law
If a police officer has any reason to believe that you are driving while intoxicated (e.g., you are weaving between lanes), they can pull you over. Then they may ask for a blood test, a breathalyzer test, or both. If your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08% or higher, you are over the legal limit and may be charged with DWI.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Texas has the highest number of drunk driving crashes and fatalities in the country. There were over 1,400 deaths in 2018 alone. For this reason, to protect as many lives as possible, Texas takes the issue of drinking and driving very seriously. Instances (or suspected instances) of drunk driving are investigated and pursued to the furthest extent of the law.
Underage drinking is taken even more seriously. There is even a specific charge reserved for underage drivers: driving under the influence (DUI). A minor can be charged with DUI if they have any detectable amount of alcohol in their system, whether or not it meets the minimum DWI threshold of 0.08%. In some circumstances, a minor can be charged with DWI instead.
How a DWI Arrest Conviction Can Affect You
Per the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the maximum penalties for DWI range from:
- 1 to 2 years without your license
- 3 months to 10 years behind bars
- $2,000 to $10,000 in fines
The penalties you face will vary based on whether this is your first offense and whether other factors complicate your case. For example, driving with an open container of alcohol may result in additional charges and penalties. You may also face additional monetary losses, such as state fines or court fees.
Even before you are officially convicted of DWI, your license can be suspended, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). How long you lose your license depends on prior suspensions and how you reacted to the arresting officer’s request for a test. In most cases, refusing to take the test will result in a longer suspension period than poor test results.
Long-Term Consequences
DWI penalties can upend your life in many ways. The fines can affect your financial stability. Prison time can impact your career, your family, and your reputation. The license suspension can make it difficult for you to go to work and take care of your family.
In addition, DWI convictions may stay on your record for life. Prospective employers, landlords, educators, and anyone else who wants to know about your past can easily pull up your conviction and make judgments based on it, including judgments that may affect your future. This is why it is so important to do everything you can to avoid a DWI conviction.
When and Why to Hire a Waxahachie DWI Lawyer
At the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg, we know that facing DWI charges is scary for many reasons. That is why we have members of our team standing by to take your call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Call our office at (214) 696-9253 whenever you need us. We serve Waxahachie, Texas and many other cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
If you are facing DWI charges, it is best to get legal representation as soon as possible. A lawyer can help you protect your rights and your future by:
- Listening to you: Just knowing that someone is really listening to you can go a long way to calming your anxiety. During your free consultation, a member of our team will listen to your story and tell you if and how a lawyer can help.
- Investigating your case: Your lawyer will look into your case from all angles. If proof of inconsistencies or police misconduct exists, we can find it.
- Fighting for dismissal: If at all possible-for example, if we find that the arresting officer did not have good reason to pull you over-we will argue for a complete dismissal of all charges.
- Fighting for reduction: In cases where dismissal is not an option, we can argue for a reduction of the charges instead. That way, even if you are convicted, you may face lighter penalties.
- Representing you at trial: If your case does go to trial, you do not have to go alone. Your lawyer will represent you while presenting evidence, witnesses, and oral arguments in your favor.
- Advising you: We know how confusing the legal system can be. If you have questions or concerns or are not sure what to do next, just let us know. We will do our best to allay your concerns.
Randall B. Isenberg has spent over thirty years practicing law, first as a prosecutor, then as a trial judge, and now as a criminal defense attorney. A Waxahachie DWI lawyer from the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg will do everything possible to protect your rights and help you put your life back together. Call us at (214) 696-9253 when you are ready to begin. The initial consultation is free of charge.
