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Plano DWI Lawyers

1. Pierce, Jeff: If you have been charged with a DWI/DUI in Texas, you should take these charges seriously. People charged with a DWI have rights, and may not realize that a DWI can result in damage to their career opportunities, driver's license or professional license, or automobile insurance rates. If you have been charged with a drinking and driving offense, contact an experienced DWI/DUI lawyer to determine your best course of action. Let an Experienced DWI Lawyer Determine if You Have a Valid Defense People often assume they have no defense against a DUI/DWI charge. Like any other case, the prosecution has the burden to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Let us ask the right questions on your behalf: * Did the police have a valid reason to stop your vehicle? * Did the police have sufficient cause to make an arrest? * If you are being charged with a second, third, or subsequent offense, were there legal grounds to challenge the sufficiency of your prior convictions? * Was the breathalyzer machine calibrated properly?
2. Albin | Harrison | Roach: North Texas DWI Defense Most people are aware that the potential consequences of a DWI conviction are severe. Despite that knowledge, many people do not immediately contact a criminal defense lawyer after being arrested. Instead, they wait Ñ either certain that the evidence against them is insurmountable, or uncertain but simply hoping that their decision to make the prosecutor's job easier will result in leniency. Both ideas are mistaken.
3. Morris, Mac: The range of punishment for a DWI is: 1st Offense: a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by not less than 72 hours in county jail or not more than 180 days in the county jail, and/or a fine not to exceed $2000. 2nd Offense: a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by not less than 30 days in county jail or not more than 365 days in the county jail, and/or a fine not to exceed $4000. 3rd Offense or More: a 3rd Degree Felony, punishable by not less than 2 years in prison or not more than 10 years in the prison, and/or a fine not to exceed $10,000. If you were given a Òstatutory warningÓ and Ònotice of license suspension and temporary driving permit then you must request an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing by contacting the Texas Department of Safety in Austin, Texas within 15 days of you getting the notices. The number to request your ALR is on the bottom of the front page of the documents the police give you. Either call or fax DPS immediately or contact this office to make the request for you. If your license is suspended at the ALR hearing or you did not request the ALR hearing within the 15 day limit, you may file a lawsuit in the county where your arrest occurred and receive an Occupational DriversÕ License (ODL). An ODL is a court order from the judge of your court that informs all the peace officers in Texas that you have permission to drive during certain hours up to 12 hours a day. You will need to have a copy of your regular insurance and obtain an SR22 which is another form of insurance. You may also be ordered to install a Deep Lung Device (DLD) into any vehicle you intend to drive, depending upon the level of your breath sample or blood draw.
4. Pelley Law Office: Do You Need a DWI Defense Lawyer in Collin or Grayson County? You just got out of jail. It was awful. You do not want to go back. Take two minutes to read this, because you do not realize to what extent your life has just changed. It is very easy for a police officer to arrest a citizen for DWI. The cop simply has to say he thought that he probably had cause to believe you had too much to drink. It is much more difficult for the State to convict you. The State must prove you are intoxicated beyond a reasonable doubt, which is the highest evidentiary standard in the law. That is why it is so important to aggressively defend each DWI case. If you have been arrested for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI or DUI) you should speak to a lawyer as soon as possible. Your chance for success decreases each day you wait to meet with an attorney. For example, after a DWI or DUI arrest, you only have 15 days to request an administrative hearing or your driver's license will be suspended. You may be able to avoid that unnecessary inconvenience and expense if you visit with an attorney immediately after the arrest. If you do not, then you will probably go back to jail if you do not have a license and you are on your way to work, church or taking your kids to school and you are pulled over for any reason. Cops do not care. Drunk driving charges carry stiff penalties. In fact, the punishment for DWI is so stiff it does not even Òfit the crimeÓ: * A first DWI: A minimum of 72 hours up to 180 days in county jail, up to a $2,000 fine, or both plus court costs, fees, and surcharges. (There is a minimum of 6 days jail time if an open container was in the car). * A second DWI: A minimum of 30 days in county jail up to 365 days in county jail, up to a $4,000 fine, or both plus court costs, fees and surcharges. * Three or more DWIs: 2 to 10 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), up to a $10,000 fine, or both, plus court costs, fees, and surcharges. (This is a 3rd Degree FelonyÑThe same degree as stealing $100,000 from someone or soliciting a minor online to have sex). In addition, a conviction by way of plea bargain or at trial will result in an administrative surcharge of $3,000 to $6,000 over the next 3 years. You could also be ordered to install an Ignition Interlock device on your vehicle. The device is very expensive. Deferred adjudication is not an option for DWI. Since 1994, that has been prohibited by the legislature in the Texas Penal Code. You can get deferred for a speeding ticket, rape or murder. But, you cannot get it for DWI. Even if you have never been in trouble with the law your entire life, a first time DWI will probably be prosecuted just as harshly as if you had a history of criminal behavior. Why this insanity? Why does the government do this? You do not think this is fair? Having some drinks and then driving is not illegal, so why were you arrested when you were not drunk? Answer: Money. Your money. Thousands of dollars that you will pay the State of Texas and your insurance company if you take a plea offer or go on probation. That is why we try DWI cases more frequently than any other type of case. We have a great success rate. Citizens accused of DWI cannot afford not to have a DWI trial lawyer.
5. Walker Skinner Waddill: Being arrested for DWI/DUI is only just the beginning of your problems. You face serious consequences if convicted, including possible jail time and/or probation, you could lose your Texas DriverÕs License, experience a large increase in insurance premiums, pay large fines and court costs, have a Deep Lung Device attached to our car, and pay surcharges to the State of Texas from $3,000 to $6,000. More importantly, a conviction for DWI can impact your career, future job opportunities and your personal relationships. Given the potential consequences, you need an experienced and qualified DWI defense firm to represent you. Being arrested for DWI/DUI does not mean that you are guilty. Did the police have probable cause to stop your vehicle? If not, then everything following the stop is inadmissible. Did the police have probable cause sufficient to arrest you for DWI/DUI? Did the police actually have evidence of intoxication? Did the police properly do their job? Was the breathalyzer working properly? Have you previously been convicted for DWI or DUI? If so, has the government done those things required to use it against you in this case?
6. Cook & Cook: In Texas, a person arrested for Driving While Intoxicated will normally have his driverÕs license taken away from him by the arresting officer. This will normally happen because he either refused to provide a breath or blood specimen, or because he consented to give the specimen, and the test determined that he had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more. In place of his normal driverÕs license, the arrested person will get a piece of paper (probably yellow in color) that will say ÒNotice of Suspension Temporary Driving PermitÓ. (DIC-25) This notice will tell him that his license will be suspended or denied effective 40 days after the date he received the DIC-25 (normally the day he was arrested). At the bottom of the DIC -25, it will tell him that he can request a hearing (known as an ÒAdministrative License Revocation HearingÓ ÐÒALR hearingÓ) to contest the suspension, and will give him an 800 number, a fax number, and a PO BOX address to send the request for hearing. (Currently, the fax number is 512-424-2650, but consult the DIC-25 or call DPS to make sure this information is still correct.) Normally, it is best to send a fax, then follow up with a phone call to make sure they got it. If you donÕt have a fax machine, go to a Kinkos or a UPS store and have them send a fax, which will give you a successful transmission receipt to prove that you sent it. The bottom of the DIC-25 will also set forth what information needs to be included in the fax requesting the hearing. (This includes: Full name, date of birth, driverÕs license number and state, current mailing address, home and daytime phone number, date and county of arrest, arresting agency, arresting officer, and whether test was failed or refused or not requested. If you want a live hearing, explicitly request it. You can also request a telephone hearing. (See Tex. Transp. Code ¤ 524.034 and Tex. Transp. Code ¤ 724.041). The request for hearing must be received by the Texas DPS no later than 15 days after receiving the notice (which normally means 15 days after being arrested for DUI). The request for a live ALR hearing might look something like this: Texas Department of Public Safety, Driver Improvement Bureau FAX: 512-424-2650 {date} RE: Notice of Request for Live (in person) ALR Hearing This is my notice of request for a live, in person, ALR hearing regarding the suspension of my driverÕs license. Here is the relevant information: Full Name: {put down your full name} Date of Birth: {put down your date of birth} DriverÕs License Number and State: {put down your driverÕs license number Ðsee DIC-25} Current Mailing Address: {put down your mailing address} Home and daytime Telephone numbers: {put down your home and daytime telephone number} Date of Arrest: {date of arrest Ðsee DIC-25} County of Arrest: {put down county of arrest Ðsee DIC-25} Arresting Agency: {agency that arresting officer worked for Ðsee DIC-25} Arresting Officer: {officerÕs name and badge number on DIC-25} Test Failure or Refusal: {put down: Òpurported refusalÓ or Òpurported failureÓ} {your signature} ÊÊÊAfter sending the notice, DPS will mail you notice of the hearing date. The DIC-25 also says that if a hearing is requested, the temporary permit to drive will remain in effect until the administrative law judge makes a final decision in the case at the requested ALR hearing. (Keep in mind that the administrative license revocation process is a completely separate matter from the underlying criminal case for driving while intoxicated, which has its own procedures and hearings.) ÊÊÊMost of what has been said so far can be understood simply by reading the DIC-25 carefully. Another fairly easy step that should normally be taken is to request pre-hearing discovery. The Texas Administrative Code sets forth the right to pre-hearing discovery. (See 1 Texas Admin. Code ¤ 159.13. However, unlike the request for ALR hearing, which should be done as soon as possible after you are arrested, you should wait a little while before filing the request for pre-hearing discovery. 1 Texas Administrative Code ¤ 159.13(1) says: ÒÉThe request for discovery may not be filed with the department sooner than the date of the request for hearing, and may not be filed sooner than five days from the date of the notice of suspensionÉÓ This means that since notice of suspension (the DIC-25) is normally received on the date of arrest, you must normally wait until 5 days after the date of arrest to request pre-hearing discovery. Furthermore, you must not send the notice of pre-hearing discovery before the DPS has received your notice of hearing. Where should the request for pre-hearing discovery be sent? 1 Texas Administrative Code ¤ 159.13(1) also says: ÒÉAll requests for discovery must be in writing and shall be served upon the department as prescribed in 37 TAC ¤ 17.16 ÉÓ. 37 Texas Administrative Code Sec. 17.16 currently says that the fax number is: (512) 424-7171, and that the fax should be ÒÉto the attention of the Director of Hearings, ALR ProgramÉÓ. The fax for pre-hearing discovery, in a ÒrefusalÓ case, could look something like this, in some instances: Director of Hearings, ALR Program PO BOX 15327 Austin, Texas 78761-5327 Fax No: 512-424-7171 ATTENTION: DIRECTOR OF HEARINGS, ALR PROGRAM Re: Discovery Request for "Refusal" Hearing {your driverÕs license number}; {your full name} {SOAH Docket No. Ð put ÒUnassignedÓ if you havenÕt received a notice of ALR hearing date yet} {date you send request} I hereby request all of the following items to be furnished to me forthwith pursuant to 1 Tex. Admin. Code ¤ 159.13(a), Tex. Gov't Code ¤ 2001.091, and the Texas Open Records Act, Tex. Gov't Code ¤ 552: 1) a copy of the form DIC-23; 2) a copy of the Form DIC-24; 3) a copy of the DIC-25; and 4) a copy of my driving record, if it is to be offered for enhancement purposes. If there are copying charges associated with this request, please notify me promptly so that payment arrangements can be made. Sincerely, {your signature} You probably already have a copy of the DIC-24 and DIC-25, but you should ask for them again. The DIC-23 is the peace officer's sworn report or probable cause affidavit. (See 37 Tex. Admin. Code ¤ 17.4(1)(B).
7. Burleson, Troy: If you have been charged with DWI, you are probably trying to make sense of the complicated procedures used to process the alleged violation and attempting to fully comprehend the consequences you may be facing including fines, jail time, probation and license suspension/revocation. If you have been charged with DWI, you are probably trying to make sense of the complicated procedures used to process the alleged violation and attempting to fully comprehend the consequences you may be facing including fines, jail time, probation and license suspension/revocation. As a quick primer, first-time DWI offenders (Class B Misdemeanor) can face anywhere from 72 hours to 180 days in jail, a fine of up to $2,000 and a license suspension of anywhere from 90 days to 1 year. Second-time DWI offenders (Class A Misdemeanor) can face anywhere from 30 days up to a year in jail, a fine of up to $4,000 and a license suspension of anywhere from 180 days to 2 years. Third-time DWI offenders (Third Degree Felony) can face anywhere from 2 to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000 and a license suspension of anywhere from 180 days to 2 years. Offenders may also face: * Probation * Community service * A drug and alcohol evaluation * The purchase and use of a deep lung air device, which checks alcohol level prior to vehicle use * Completion of a DWI education class and victim impact panel * Alcohol treatment * License suspension/revocation * Abstinence from alcohol during probation * Restitution for damages occurring as a result of the DWI
8. Stephen Miller: The biggest mistake you can make after a DWI arrest is to wait to act until more than fifteen (15) days after the arrest. You need an attorney immediately. In Texas, you have fifteen (15) days from the date of your arrest to contest the automatic license suspension. If you do not make a request for an administrative hearing within fifteen (15) days, there is very little you will be able to do to contest your license suspension. Please note that following these steps will often result in your arrest for drunk driving and you risk losing your driver's license. However, your DWI defense will be much stronger without blood alcohol content test results and with no admission of guilt. 1. Have your driver's license and proof of insurance ready and provide them to the officer. 2. Don't get out of the car and don't volunteer any information. You have a constitutional right to remain silent and not to incriminate yourself. Use it. Don't answer any questions you are asked about drinking and driving - or anything else. 3. Be polite and respectful to the officer. Keep your emotions in check even if you think it is an illegal stop without probable cause. Follow basic instructions such as keeping your hands visible, and cooperate with the officer's reasonable requests. 4. Don't do or say anything without first consulting a lawyer. A lawyer can advise you about your rights, whether you should make a statement to the officer, whether you should take a breath test, and what the likely consequences of your actions will be. 5. Assert your right to talk with an attorney. The officer may say that this right is not yet in effect or it's not necessary. You have the right to request counsel when you are being accused of a crime such as DWI. You have the right to a lawyer. 6. Do not perform any field sobriety tests such as walking a straight line or touching your nose, no matter how insistent the officer is. Police officers ask drivers to perform these tests in order to build probable cause for blood, breath or urine tests. 7. If you have been drinking, you may want to refuse portable chemical breath tests such as a Breathalyzer or Intoxilyzer. While you do risk losing your driver's license if you refuse, you may avoid harsher penalties. 8. Challenge your license suspension ASAP. If you are arrested for DWI, your driver's license will be suspended. You have only 15 days to request a hearing to challenge an alcohol-related driver's license suspension. If you request the hearing, you may qualify for an occupational driver's license.
9. Haywood & Barbierri: Chances are great that during the time it takes you to read through the content on this website, someone right now in the state of Texas is being either convicted or arrested for a drinking and driving offense. Driving while intoxicated offenses are so prevalent in our society they make up nearly one third of all criminal cases in our court systems. The reasons are varied. Judges and politicians want to portray an image of being tough on crime. Municipalities revel in the windfall of excessive fines that come from each person accused of driving while intoxicated. Special Interest groups aggressively bend the ear of legislators in an effort to return our society back to the days of Prohibition. Whatever the reasons, one of the frightening aspects of the legal environment in our culture today is that nobody is immune from being accused of committing a crime - especially driving while intoxicated. In fact, even the most nominal amounts of alcohol (just a few ounces) consumed over the course of several hours is enough to trigger a law enforcement officer to arrest you for suspicion of driving while intoxicated. If you are arrested - you will be prosecuted. District Attorneys throughout Texas (especially in North Texas) tenaciously prosecute individuals accused of driving while intoxicated. If you've been accused, you need a criminal defense attorney with experience in DWI law and one who understands how to obtain a successful outcome given the specific facts of each case.
10. Jose Stewart:

    WHAT HAPPENS IF I REFUSE TO PROVIDE A SAMPLE OF BREATH OR BLOOD?

    If you refuse to provide a breath/blood sample, your refusal may be used as evidence against you at trial and your driver's license may be suspended for 180 days if this is your first offense, or 2 years if you have previously been convicted.

    SHOULD I REFUSE TO TAKE A BREATH OR BLOOD TEST?

    Yes. Even if you pass the test you will go to jail. Remember, even if your consumption of alcohol has not resulted in the loss of the normal use of your faculties, a test result in excess of the legal limit is sufficient to convict you. Submitting to the test, gives the prosecutor one more way to claim that you were intoxicated.. Instead, the State will say that because the test was taken some time after the time of driving your alcohol concentration at the time of driving was higher than at the time of the test and that you have simply had time to sober up.
    
    When confronted with a request for a breath/blood/urine sample, you should ask the officer to allow you to contact an attorney for advice in making your decision. The officer will probably tell you that you do not have the right to speak with an attorney at this point, but the average juror may view your request as reasonable. Moreover this saves you form having to flatly refuse the officer's request.

    CAN I REFUSE TO PERFORM THE ROADSIDE FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS?

    Yes. The officer can not force you to perform the field sobriety tests.

    IS IT AGAINST THE LAW TO DRINK AND DRIVE?

    While it is a crime to drive while intoxicated or to drink alcohol while driving, it is not against the law to drive after having a few drinks so longs as the consumption of alcohol does not cause intoxication. However, if you are stopped for any reason and the officer detects the driving while intoxicated.

    THIS IS MY FIRST OFFENSE, WILL I GO TO JAIL?

    Absent unusual circumstances the answer is "no". Most people convicted of a first DWI receive community supervision (probation), are required to pay a fine, perform community service, submit to alcohol counseling, report to a probation officer and abide by additional terms of community supervision. So long as you successfully complete the community supervision, you will not be required to spend any time in jail with the exception of the time served immediately following your arrest.

    IS DEFERRED ADJUDICATION AVAILABLE IN A DWI CASE?

    If you are convicted or plead guilty to a DWI, you are not eligible for deferred adjudication. However, if the DWI is reduced to a non-DWI offense such as reckless driving, deferred adjudication may be an option.

11. David Scoggins: How soon do I need to hire a lawyer on a criminal case? The police began gathering evidence against you even before a decision was made to arrest and charge you. The prosecutor has witness statements, other evidence and knowledge of law and procedure to use against you. You need an attorney standing up for you as soon as possible. (Caveat: If you are charged with a DWI, you must demand a license suspension hearing within 15 days of your arrest or you can suffer an automatic loss of driving privileges.)
12. Jennifer Barnett: Handles cases as a DWI lawyer for Intoxication-Oriented offenses, including DWIs, public intoxication, furnishing alcohol to a minor, and also represents minors charged with possession, consumption or underage drinking and driving
13. Dirk Wadas:

    DWI law is complicated and to mount an effective defense to a DWI charge you need an attorney who understands the scientific evidence, the police procedure and training, and one who has extensive experience trying DWI cases.

    A DWI arrest may result in loss of driver's license, probation, fines or even jail time. If you have been arrested for DWI, contact us immediately.

    Below is an outline of the classifications and punishment ranges for DWI convictions.

    DWI — First Offense

    This is a class B misdemeanor with a punishment range of 72 hours to one hundred eighty days in the county jail. Generally, people will be eligible for community supervising (probation) on a first conviction.

    DWI — Second Offense

    This is a class A misdemeanor punishable by 30 days to one year in the county jail and up to a $4,000 fine.

    DWI — Third Offense or Higher

    This is a third degree felony punishable by not less than two nor more than ten years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

14. Christopher Hoover: Driving while intoxicated, first offense, is a Class B Misdemeanor that is defined at Texas Penal Code ¤49.04. That provision states that, "A person commits an offense if the person is intoxicated while operating a motor vehicle in a public place". This definition sets forth the elements that must be proven to sustain a conviction.
15. Jeffrey Rosenfield: DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED - DWI/DUI Laws in Dallas, Texas A DWI, or driving while intoxicated, makes headlines in the news every day across the country. As the number of DWIs continues to occur on a regular basis, injuring and claiming lives, DWI laws are being changed from state to state in attempts to crack down on the numbers. New tactics are being put into place in response with growing concern that not enough is being done to reduce the number of DWIs. Especially around the holidays, cops are having check in points and different approaches in hopes of deterring DWIs. In 2000 alone, 1.5 million drivers were arresting for a DWI, or one DWI for every 130 licensed driver. While a DWI can be an extremely tragic occurrence and puts innocent people at risk for injury and death, the increasing pressure to reduce DWIs can result in innocent drivers being wrongly accused of a DWI. Law enforcement in attempts to increase the number of penalties issued for DWIs may try to reach this goal through improper investigation or procedure. All persons accused of a DWI has rights and should ensure their rights are protected. The pressure to issue stronger sentences for DWIs is important for the safety of everybody, but it can result in harsh sentences that are unrightfully given. Unfortunately, one out of three DWI arrests and convictions are repeat offenders. Sentences for DWI repeat offenders have been, and will continue to be made stricter in the future. As regulators and law enforcement continues to fight against the high frequency of DWIs that occur, it is also important to understand the rights of those people accused of a DWI.
16. Nancy Kennedy: Driving While Intoxicated charges involve an allegation that someone had too much to drink and got behind the wheel and drove. The consequences for DWI are endless. If you are convicted your license may be suspended, your insurance rates may go up, you will be charged fees in the amount of $1000.00 to $2000.00 a year to keep your license, and more. These charges are aggressively prosecuted. You should have an aggressive defense attorney.
17. Glen Adams: Texas is one of many states to have an implied consent law. This law states that each person who has applied for and been granted a license to operate a motor vehicle on a public roadway has impliedly consented to providing a specimen of breath or blood if arrested for DWI and provided with the applicable consequences of refusal to submit to testing (Texas Transportation Code ¤724). Texas appellate courts have also held that an individual does not have the right to consult with an attorney before making the decision to refuse or provide a requested specimen. If there was an accident which produced serious life-threatening injury or possibility of death, a citizen can be compelled to provide the requested sample. Substantial and significant changes in how suspensions under implied consent violations went into effect January 1, 1995. Each year the Texas Legislature meets, the topic of DWI is addressed in some fashion. Significant changes in this law removed jurisdiction from Justice of the Peace Courts (J.P.) And established a new bureaucracy called the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH). This bureaucracy is staffed by "pseudo-employees" of the Texas Department of Public Safety (TDPS) and given the direct objective to increase the number of license suspensions for persons refusing to provide the requested sample of breath or blood. This new law also added suspension for providing a specimen upon request that indicated an alcohol concentration above the legal limit (0.08 gm/210 l - breath or 0.08 gm/100 ml - blood). Another major change in the prior law withheld from the SOAH Administrative judge, the authority to "probate" or "suspend" any period of license suspension that was ordered. As a result, the TDPS objective of suspending more licenses has been achieved.
18. Grubbs & Goeller: Drunk driving is a major current societal issue. Police and prosecutors are keenly aware that they must appear tough on drunk drivers. This means police will pull over drivers for minor infractions to determine if the driver has been drinking, and prosecutors will pile on heavy charges where there is any hint of alcohol use.
19. Pamela Lakatose: There are normally two things to consider in the crucial moments which follow an arrest. The first is securing the person?s release from jail as soon as possible. There are a variety of ways this may be accomplished. Which particular procedure is best depends on the facts of each case. The second concern is to preserve and develop the arrested person?s ability to defend against the accusations. It is best for the accused to refrain from making statements to anyone concerning the case until he or she has been fully able to consult with an attorney.
20. Danette Alvarado: Even after a prosecutor has determined that a prior conviction exists and is able to overcome the limitations of the Full Faith and Credit clause, the prosecutor must obtain the proper certified records to prove a prior conviction. Some states recognize abstract driving records printed and authenticated by a law enforcement agency as evidence of a prior conviction. Such driving records are used in court as a certified business record and given the same deference as an original document. Other states require a certified court record from the court of conviction, in which case a prosecutor must contact the court issuing the conviction.
21. Burleson, Pate & Gibson: Under the law, drivers rack up points for various traffic offenses and must pay additional penalties if they get too many points. Failure to pay means loss of a driver's license. The fees are particularly high for drunken drivers, who face a $1,000 annual surcharge for three years and even higher levies for subsequent offenses or if their blood-alcohol concentration exceeds 0.16.
22. Dawna Kim: If you are charged with drunk driving (DUI DWI) you will face additional consequences, such as:
    1. Loss of Your Driver's License
    2. Court Ordered Education & Treatment
    3. Loss of Your Occupational Driver's License & Employment
23. Lars Isaacson: First offense (class B misdemeanor): Fine of up to $2,000, jail term of three days to six months, license suspension from three months to one year. If the judge opts for probation, an alcohol education program is required within six months.
24. Shapiro Law Firm: People accused of drunk driving have an uphill battle beginning the moment they see the red lights in their rearview mirrors. Driving while intoxicated has become such a hot social issue that many accused of the crime feel they are committing still another by trying to defend themselves. Public perception aside, the charges truly are serious and can mean years of incredibly high insurance premiums, not to mention the fine, possible jail time, and the loss of employment where a driver's license is required. If you stand accused of DUI / DWI, you need an attorney that can fight for you and challenge the evidence where it is deficient. A good lawyer can help analyze your case from the beginning, starting the moment before the officer decided to pull you over.