If you have been charged with a DUI, educating yourself on the risks and facts surrounding this issue is the first step you can take to show authorities that you are remedying your behavior for the better.

In Texas, an adult can get pulled over for driving while intoxicated (DWI) and arrested on that drunk driving charge. For a minor with any amount of blood alcohol concentration, the police may charge the driver for driving under the influence (DUI). This is a class 3 misdemeanor in Texas with separate penalties from a DWI.

A DUI in Texas is an advanced form of traffic ticket and can come with a 60-day driver’s license suspension. If the police officer determines that you were dangerously intoxicated, the officer can charge a minor beyond a DUI, with a more serious charge of DWI. A DWI is not available to be expunged and stays on a person’s permanent record. It cannot be sealed after a person is convicted of one.

If found guilty of a DUI, you could be sentenced to one or any combination of:

• Community service
• Jail time
• Probation
• Driver’s education
• Substance abuse counseling

The consequences of a DUI can be severe and lasting on one’s permanent record. Some DUI defendants face other serious charges, such as reckless driving, destruction of property, or additional potential crimes for any injuries they may have recklessly caused. If a DUI is all you are facing, there is a chance it could be negotiated down or dealt with via a plea bargain. However, if you are facing more than just a DUI, it is more of an uphill struggle. Either way, some people in this instance choose to work with a defense attorney to potentially maximize their time value rather than spend unnecessary time in jail.

The health consequences alone of drinking too young are dire. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol may alter brain development for people younger than 21. The safety risks of operating heavy machinery under the influence of intoxicating substances is also a potentially life-threatening mistake. Drunk driving kills over 10,000 people a year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

If you plead guilty and apologize, it can go a long way. You may fulfill community service and drivers’ education classes, which can cost hundreds of dollars extra and are not paid for by the state. There are some instances where the law allows opportunities for defense and mitigation of intoxicated driving charges.

If you or a loved one is facing a surprise DUI, a Mesquite under 21 DUI lawyer from our team at the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg may be able to help you defend against your DUI charges to the fullest extent allowable by law. Call us at (214) 696-9253 to get started with your free consultation.

Know the Law on Underage Drinking and Driving in Texas

Texas Code § 106.041 states that any amount of alcohol concentration found in a minor’s blood is enough to warrant a DUI if they are found driving under the influence. This is the relevant law that the police are working under.

If there were no human victims of your crime, you may have a better chance of negotiating down the charges. DUIs are often charged alongside other issues like careless driving for swerving between lanes. A member of our team can take a look at the facts of your case and provide a free case evaluation.

Some people choose to go with a Mesquite under 21 DUI lawyer to help ensure their rights are protected as they go through the criminal justice process. There are a number of risks facing youth in the penal system, and authorities are sometimes willing to make a good-faith effort to help a young adult turn things around.

We can help you get involved with rehab programs and make progress towards definitive goals in that front. This helps authorities see that you are taking positive steps toward your own recovery. The law does not have to come down hard on minors, especially if it is a first-time violation. The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg is prepared to do everything within the law to protect your rights and ensure you are treated fairly. Call us today at (214) 696-9253.

How a Mesquite Under 21 DUI Lawyer May Be Able to Help You

Keeping the charge off of your permanent record may become a high priority as you deal with the aftermath of a DUI charge. The District Attorney listens to reason and sound logic backed up by evidence. So, if we can help you make a strong character argument in court, it can potentially boost your case’s strength.

Many factors start going into motion once a person has been arrested for a DUI. The police typically handle evidence collection, and there is little argument over what went on. You must submit to a breathalyzer test if an officer requests or you risk arrest and suspension of your license anyway. If you blow alcohol as a minor, you might have to spend the night in jail and inquire about bail bonds. Our legal office can help you with this process.

Jailtime Can Range Widely for Texas DUI

For a first-offense DUI in Texas, prison sentencing can range from three days to six months. A Mesquite under 21 DUI lawyer may be able to help minimize this sentence for their clients. Because there is no mandatory minimum jail time for a DUI first offense, there are legal ways to negotiate your release from a Mesquite-area jail.

For example, if you have an open cup or bottle of alcohol in your vehicle, it becomes a worse offense with more potential jail time. Some people think it is not a big deal to have an open container in a car, but this alone can lead to a DUI, whether or not the driver even had a sip of alcohol. This is true whether a driver is above or below 21.

For drivers under the age of 21, there is no allowable blood alcohol concentration legally. Thus, it is presumed that you are driving drunk, which might be viewed as unfair by some drivers, but that is still the way the law works.

For more information about what we can do to defend you and reduce your charges, call the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg today at (214) 696-9253.

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(214) 696-9253

Charges relating to intoxication manslaughter are serious in Texas, resulting in harsh penalties and jail time. If you are facing a sentence of intoxication manslaughter, it can be worth it to ensure your rights are protected through the criminal justice process. A Mesquite intoxication manslaughter lawyer with the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg can help defend your rights. Call our office today at (214) 696-9253.

Manslaughter is a crime where someone accidentally ends the life of another person. Different than murder, manslaughter contains no intent to kill. However, manslaughter can still be tied to a reckless driving charge, which might indicate negligence.

No one wants to be involved in a fatal car accident, no matter who is at fault or what the circumstances may be. We understand that this is a difficult time and are prepared to do everything we can to make this an easier, clearer, and less scary process for you. Indeed, if you make more mistakes in handling your own case, jail time can be much higher.

Collecting Evidence Boosts Your Case

Our goal is to swiftly collect evidence to ascertain where you truly stand with the law. Any evidence we can collect first and not share with the other party gives us a big advantage. The law is harsh surrounding intoxicated driving, and there is a long history in this country of drunk drivers ending lives. The laws are in place for good reason.

There could be eyewitnesses working or living nearby who may have witnessed the events. Having more eyewitnesses than the other side may bolster your case. We can also bring in expert testimony, which may be able to support your case. Expert testimony is a key tool in many legal proceedings. For example, it can help the jury understand complex accident reconstruction data. There could also be broken glass patterns in the street or skid marks that can help show the events and what happened. It is important to keep things objective and fact-based when pursuing a defense of intoxication manslaughter in Texas.

Anything you tell your attorney in Texas is protected by attorney-client privilege, per the Texas Bar Association. Everything you tell your attorney is protected by this law. Your attorney cannot break this law and expect to keep their job, and all attorneys know about this. Nothing you tell your attorney will be used against you.

The exact opposite is true when you are speaking with police or insurance agents. In those instances, anything you say can and will be used against you in court or not used at all. Essentially, the reverse is true for your attorney. Anything you tell your lawyer will either be used to help your case, or it will not be used as evidence. This is central to the adversarial nature of the Anglo-American legal system.

Understand Sentencing for Intoxicated ManslaughterIn Texas, the law is written to protect people who were unknowingly intoxicated before they got into an accident. Thus, an early point of contention is going to center around whether you knowingly became intoxicated prior to the accident. There are a number of instances where a person may not be aware that a beverage they have has alcohol. If a drink was spiked at a party, but you were not aware, there can potentially be a case made that you did not know you were intoxicated.

There are tough penalties in Texas for intoxication manslaughter, such as:

• Prison time of 24 months to 20 years
• Fines as high as $10,000 per victim
• Probation
• Substance abuse counseling
• Traffic education school
• Community service
• Revoked or suspended driver’s license

Whether you spend two years or two decades in prison for this crime depends largely on the evidence and the quality of your defense attorney team. Knowledge of civil procedure and the law can go a long way in protecting someone’s rights in criminal proceedings.

The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg has experience with this type of criminal law. We know what the authorities must prove, and if the evidence is there, we know how to help you get the plea bargain that could reduce your prison time.

There could be video camera footage from a nearby establishment that caught some of the action, so your Mesquite intoxication manslaughter lawyer will have answers to defend you in that scenario. Call the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg at (214) 696-9253 for a free consultation to learn more about how a lawyer may help you.

Ways a Mesquite Intoxication Manslaughter Lawyer Has Helped Folks Like You

Sometimes police officers make mistakes when they investigate a crime. If your civil rights are violated at any point in the criminal justice process, a Mesquite intoxication manslaughter lawyer at the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg may be able to help you fight to reduce the charges.

There are steps a person can take to indicate to prosecutors that they are serious about reforming their life, including:

• Substance abuse counseling
• Traffic school or drivers’ education classes
• Apologizing to the victim’s family
• Pleading guilty to relevant charges
• Cooperating with investigators

This is a sensitive time and process for everyone involved. A wrong move can more than triple the amount of time you spend in jail as a result. For example, if you decide to represent yourself in court, plead not guilty, and then run out of money defending yourself against expert testimony, you could face the maximum penalty. Do not get in over your head like this. Instead, we recommend working with us at the Law Office of Randall B. Isenberg, where we have criminal justice experience and know the ins and outs of Texas law regarding intoxication manslaughter.

There are many instances of extenuating circumstances that could materially change the outcome of your case. Trials and legal cases center around evidence, and we can review the evidence of your case and let you know where you stand with the law.

Sometimes police make mistakes, and if there was a mistake made in prosecuting you, we may have an opportunity to reduce your sentencing and get you out of prison sooner.

Regardless of the facts of your case, we are prepared to help maximize your chances of freedom and fight for your rights throughout the criminal justice process. Call us today to get started with a free case evaluation at (214) 696-9253.

Call or text or complete a Free Case Evaluation form

(214) 696-9253