Gainesville DWI Lawyers
- Fostel, Chris:
DWI: Texas drunk driving laws are strict and seem to get more harsh
every year. There have even been attempts to arrest people for
being drunk in bars, before they have even headed towards their
cars.
Texas DWI penalties are severe and include mandatory minimum jail time
even for first offenses. DWI charges are "enhanceable", meaning the
potential penalties become even more severe if you have prior DWI
convictions.
If you are stopped for drunk driving in Texas:
* Don't take the breath test * Don't answer questions about where
you've been or whether you've had anything to drink * Don't agree to
take a field sobriety test * Don't forget that you are being video
taped and audio taped * DO an experienced DWI attorney as
soon as possible
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER A DWI ARREST
After a DWI arrest you may be feeling anxious and concerned. You never
thought you would be faced with the possibility of jail time, probation,
a license suspension or an ignition interlock device in your car.
If you have been arrested for DWI, two separate causes of action have
been initiated against you. There is a crimanal case and a civil case.
THE CIVIL SIDE: Many times the criminal case takes precedence while the
civil case is paid little attention. Unforunately, there are strict
time restraints that must be adhered to in order to maintain your
driving privileges. This is the case even if the prosecutor has offered
you a plea bargain which allows you to keep your driver's license.
the Texas Department of Public Safety is an adminstrative agency which
holds the authority to grant driver's licenses and take them away.
After an arrest for DWI, DPS will suspend your license if you refused to
take the breath test or if you failed the breath test. In orer to
maintain your driver's license you MUST request a hearing within 14 days
of your arrest. Failure to act will result in an automatic suspension
of your driving privileges.
THE CRIMINAL SIDE: The keys to the effective criminal defense of DWI are
knowledge, experience and investigation.
A drunk driving conviction can be a devastating event. If you plead
Guilty to DWI you could end up paying thousands of dollars in fines,
penalties, surcharges and higher insurance rates. Given the harsh
penalties, you should never plead guilty before talking to an
experienced criminal defense attorney.
The DWI laws are becoming stricter
and the punishments more severe. It is extremely important that you
have an experienced and aggressive criminal defense attorney on your
side.
If you have been arrested, what you do in the first 24 hors can make all
the difference. If you've been arrested for a serious crime, your
freedom, your reputation, and your livelihood could depend on the
decisions you make in the first 24 hours. You should not talk to the
police, your employer, the newspapers, even your family or anyone else
about certain legal defenses you may have. The only person you should
talk to is an experienced crimnal defense attorney.
OCCUPATIONAL DRIVERS LICENSE:
Texas DWI and CDL Attorney For truck drivers and others who require a
commercial drivers license (CDL) to work, the loss of that license can
be devastating. Your emplyment and your entire livelihood are
immediately at risk.
YOU MUST ACT WITHIN 15 DAYS In Texas, you have 15 days after a DWI
arrest to challenge the suspension of your drivers license. If you have
a CDL but were not driving the commercial vehicle at that time, your CDL
privileges will still be affected.
If you are a commercial driver who has been arrested for drinking and
driving, it is crucial to seek criminal defense services from an
experienced lawyer who understands what is at stake.
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