DWI Penalties Are Serious Matter for DWI Lawyers

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For starters, the best advice any lawyer or any human being can give is “don’t drink alcohol and then drive!” Seems like simple enough advice, and yet it’s still a serious problem in our society. Lives are changed forever, and many even end every day due to the carelessness of drunk drivers and the police are constantly working to find ways to limit the danger that drunk drivers bring to the road.

The police officer’s job is difficult and dangerous and should be commended for his service to the public. However, when it comes to DWI arrests, they have a fair amount of discretion when choosing to stop a vehicle they suspect is being driven by someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Being arrested for DWI is basically an opinion from the officer that a crime has been committed. And, they are human and subject to making mistakes or taking the blame incorrectly. For this reason, if you are arrested for DWI, it is always smart to hire a DWI lawyer right away to help ensure that you are protected and that his rights are best defended.

The penalties, if convicted of DWI in Texas, are severe and life-altering. In Texas, a first offense conviction (Class B Misdemeanor) can include a fine not to exceed $2,000, the possibility of jail time between three and 180 days, as well as a driver’s license suspension of between 90 and 180 days. . A second offense (Class A Misdemeanor) doubles the fine amounts and jail time is often increased by anywhere from a month to a full year. With a second offense, the driver’s license is often suspended for one to two years. When a third offense occurs, the fine can be up to $10,000 and can land you in prison for 2 to 10 years. Now a third degree felony, this is a charge that can also cause your driver’s license to be suspended for two years.

Sometimes there are other circumstances along with the DWI charge that can result in additional penalties. If a person is charged with DWI and has an open container of alcohol in their vehicle, they can receive an additional six days in jail and an additional fine of up to $2,000 for their first offense. If a serious bodily injury accident occurs due to the driver’s intoxication, the charge is called an intoxicated assault. The fine for this crime can reach up to $10,000 and carries two to ten years in jail. If a death occurs at the fault of the drunk driver, the crime is intoxication homicide. The prison sentence associated with this crime is from two to ten years in prison.

When dealing with such serious crimes, having an expert opinion is critical. In some of these lesser classifications, an experienced attorney may be able to help you get probation, but there is never a guarantee of this. With the more serious charges of intoxication assault or intoxication manslaughter, you may not be eligible for parole at all. Having an experienced DWI attorney on your side will give you the best chance of getting the best possible outcome if you are facing a DWI charge.

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