Fort Bend DWI Lawyer
DWI/DUI charges are serious because they come with penalties such as jail time and significant fines. These charges may also affect your job or education prospects in the future because they show up in your criminal record. So when you face a DWI/DUI charge you will need an experienced Fort Bend DWI lawyer to defend you.
Penalties For DWI/DUI
The offense you committed determines the penalty that you will face. For first time offenders, the penalties may be more lenient especially if that was their first run-in with the criminal justice system. However, there are certain situations where a first-time offender can face serious penalties. For example, if a person is driving with an alcohol level of 1.5 or higher with a child in the vehicle, they will face harsher penalties. Generally, the consequences of a DWI charge are:
- Loss of your vehicle
- Suspension of your driver’s license
- Loss of CDL for commercial drivers
- Having to install an ignition interlock device in your vehicle
- Jail time or probation
The penalties get harsher for subsequent DWI offenses. For example, a first offense results in a fine of $2,000 and 72 hours in jail, but a second offense leads to a $4,000 and one month to one year in jail. Apart from that, a DWI in your criminal record may lead to paying higher insurance rates. Insurance companies conduct background checks on their customers. There are background checks for jobs, housing, college and other opportunities. An experienced DWI lawyer can help you pursue expungement of the records to secure your future.
A DWI Lawyer Can Help Get Charges Dropped Or Reduced
Being charged with a DWI is not the end of the world because there are defenses you can use to have the charges dropped. These kinds of cases tend to have several weaknesses that your lawyer can take advantage of. For example, police officers have to follow due process, which means that a police officer has to have reasonable suspicion in order to conduct a traffic stop. So if you are charged with a DUI but your lawyer convinces the court that the police officers did not have a legitimate reason to stop you, the court can easily dismiss the case. Other possible grounds for dismissal or reduction in charges include:
- There is no sufficient evidence to prove you were intoxicated
- The police used a faulty or miscalibrated breathalyzer
- Police did not get a warrant for your breath or blood test
- There is little evidence to prove that you were the driver of the vehicle
Your Lawyer Can Fight To Save Your License
Law enforcement will take possession of your driving license when you are arrested for a DWI. They will then give you a 40 day driving permit. Once you get the permit, you only have 15 days to challenge the suspension of your license. Your lawyer will review your case to see if you have strong grounds for saving your license. But even if your license stays suspended, you can still get a restricted license which allows you to drive to work, school and for other limited purposes.