Austin DWI Attorney

Is Your License Suspended Immediately After a DUI?

A DWI arrest will initiate license suspension proceedings by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and you have 15 days to request a hearing to challenge the suspension of your license. This hearing is separate from your criminal DWI case, and we recommend involving an Austin DWI lawyer to handle your hearing as well as your criminal charges. License suspension is a possibility, but we can help you avoid it.

I Got a DUI, Is My Life Over?

Texas has some of the toughest DWI laws in the nation, and a conviction can have life-long consequences. For example, you will never be able to seal your record. A DWI conviction will make it much more difficult to get into college, the military or find a decent paying job. Further, a conviction for DWI could, and likely will, include many fines, fees, probation conditions, jail time, increased insurance costs and driver’s license suspensions. If you were arrested, talk to a knowledgeable Austin DUI lawyer at Smith & Vinson Law Firm during a free consultation.

DWI Punishments in Texas

In addition to the financial cost, it is important to understand the potential consequences of a DWI conviction. Depending on the severity of the charge, you may face jail time, fines, community service, and/or the loss of your driver’s license. It is important to understand the potential consequences of a DWI conviction so that you can make an informed decision about your case. 

• In Texas, a first offense DWI is usually a class B misdemeanor. This is punishable with a fine up to $2000 and/or up to 180 days in the county jail. There is no deferred adjudication in Texas for DWI. Also, if you accept any form of probation, this is a criminal conviction.
• A second offense DWI is usually a class A misdemeanor. This is punishable with a fine up to $4000 and/or up to a year in the county jail.
• A third offense DWI can be charged as a third-degree felony. This would be punishable by up to a $10,000 fine and/or 2 to 10 years in prison.

Is this your first offense or are you facing another one? Call Smith & Vinson Law Firm and set up a free consultation with our Austin DWI attorney.

DWI Cost in Texas

In Texas, the cost of a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) conviction can be substantial. The cost of a DWI can vary depending on several factors, including the severity of the offense and any aggravating circumstances.

Here are some of the potential costs associated with a DWI conviction in Texas:

1. Fines: A DWI conviction in Texas can result in fines of up to $2,000 for a first offense, up to $4,000 for a second offense, and up to $10,000 for a third offense.
2. Court costs and legal fees: Defendants are responsible for paying court costs and legal fees associated with their case. These costs can vary depending on the severity of the offense and the length of the legal proceedings.
3. License suspension and reinstatement fees: If convicted of a DWI, the defendant's driver's license will be suspended. To reinstate their license, the defendant will need to pay a reinstatement fee of up to $125.
4. Ignition interlock device: Depending on the circumstances of the case, the court may require the defendant to install an ignition interlock device (IID) on their vehicle. The defendant will be responsible for paying for the installation and maintenance of the IID.
5. Increased insurance premiums: A DWI conviction can result in significantly higher car insurance premiums. The cost of insurance can increase by hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year.
6. Alcohol education classes: Depending on the circumstances of the case, the court may require the defendant to attend alcohol education classes. The defendant will be responsible for paying for the classes.

Overall, the cost of a DWI conviction in Texas can be significant and can add up to thousands of dollars. In addition to the financial costs, a DWI conviction can often can result in a criminal record, potential jail time, and damage to a person's reputation and future employment prospects.

How Long Does a DWI Case Take in TX?

The length of a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) case in Texas can vary depending on several factors, such as the complexity of the case, the court's schedule, and the defendant's willingness to accept a plea deal or go to trial.

Generally speaking, a first-time DWI offense in Texas may take several months to resolve. The case usually starts with an arrest, followed by a bond hearing, arraignment, pre-trial motions, plea negotiations, and eventually, trial. If the defendant is found guilty, they may be sentenced to fines, community service, probation, or even jail time.

If the case goes to trial, the process can take longer, and it may take several months or even over a year to reach a verdict. However, many cases are resolved through plea negotiations, which can expedite the process.

It's important to note that every case is unique, and the length of a DWI case can vary depending on the specific circumstances. It's best to consult with a qualified DWI lawyers Austin for more information on the timeline of a DWI case and what to expect throughout the process.

Arrested for driving while intoxicated? Call our Austin DWI lawyer at (512) 359-3743 at Smith & Vinson Law Firm today.

Exercise Your Constitutional Rights

It is important for you to know your rights. Unfortunately, many people are not fully informed on what their rights are when pulled over for DWI.

If you were arrested for DWI, you have the right to:

When refusing the officer’s questions, we advise our clients to say, “Officer, I have done nothing wrong and I would like to refuse all tests. If you have submitted to any of the above, contact our DWI lawyers Austin.

What Must Be Proven for a DWI Conviction?

According to Texas DWI laws, driving while intoxicated means that the person commits an offense if they are intoxicated while driving a motor vehicle in a public area.

The prosecution must be able to prove that you were:

• Intoxicated, while
• Operating a motor vehicle, and
• In a public area

What Is “Intoxicated”?

In Texas, the DUI law says that the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit is 0.08. If the state is able to prove that your BAC was at 0.08 or higher during the arrest, then that is enough to charge you. However, another part of the DUI law also mentions that because of the introduction of alcohol, controlled substance, drug, or combination of the two, or any other substance in the body the person no longer has normal use of their mental or physical faculties.

The prosecution may try to prove this through videos, testimony, or field sobriety tests, but with an experienced Austin DWI lawyer by your side, the case will be harder for the prosecutor.

Common Defenses Against a DWI Charge

Every day thousands of people are pulled over for suspected driving while under the influence (DWI) scenarios. Unfortunately, many of the accused believe officers have them “dead to rights” because they submitted to a breathalyzer test or they “confessed” to drinking and driving. Below, our Austin DWI attorneys discuss more common defenses against charges.

Probable Cause & DWI Arrest in Texas

Probable cause is an established legal reason that gives officers the right to exercise their authority. Probable cause impacts a variety of criminal cases because police cannot lawfully search, stop, question, or detain a citizen without first establishing probable cause. This must be established for a police officer to lawfully pull over a driver and make an arrest for DWI.

The state grants its officers certain authorities to do their jobs; one of these authorities is the ability to pull over drivers. However, police can’t go around and pull over whomever they want; they can only pull over drivers when they can establish probable cause. Challenging probable cause is one way to defend a driver against a DWI arrest or charge. For guidance in your case, reach out to our Austin DWI lawyer to schedule a free initial consultation.

Probable Cause in Traffic Stops

A Texas officer can establish and argue for probable cause in a traffic stop leading to a DWI charge for a variety of reasons such as:

If an officer cannot establish probable cause, they cannot legally pull someone over and arrest the driver. Therefore, if an officer pulls someone over without probable cause, then any arrest they make as a result of that traffic stop will typically not hold up in court. As a result, if a driver is charged with a DWI after blowing a 0.08% BAC and failing the field sobriety tests, but was stopped by an officer who didn’t have probable cause, the case will likely not hold up in court. If there was no probable cause for your traffic stop, contact our Austin DWI attorneys today at (512) 359-3743.

Probable Cause to Make an Arrest for DWI

Even if an officer makes a routine traffic stop, and has probable cause to do so, they must still have probable cause to administer a breath or blood test, search your vehicle, or make an arrest for DWI. Probable cause could be established if the officer notices an odor of drugs or alcohol coming from the vehicle, physical behaviors, and characteristics indicating intoxication, or drugs, alcohol, or paraphernalia in plain view.

Probable cause is an essential part of every DWI case, as an establishment of probable cause can be the difference between a conviction or a charge getting dropped. If there was no probable cause for your arrest, get in touch with an experienced Austin DWI lawyer as soon as possible!

Questioning Police Testimony

We all make mistakes, but for some reason people seem to think police are never wrong. Fortunately, all it takes is a quick Google search to prove that that’s not the case.

Despite the fallibility of officers, many DUI cases weigh heavily on their testimonies. Some traffic stops occur late at night when no one else is around, which means some DWI scenarios become a “he-said-she-said” situation.

Unfortunately, officers don’t always get the facts straight, which can cause innocent people to be accused of crimes they didn’t commit.

As experienced Austin DWI attorneys, we test the authority of an officer’s testimony given the facts. We don’t assume the officer’s story is how it happened; we make sure that his or her story is put under the microscope for inconsistencies; after all, no one deserves to be put in jail because a cop thought they smelled like alcohol.

Moving on from human errors, let’s now talk about testing errors.

The Accuracy of Test Results

If you submitted to a breathalyzer test, you might think the evidence against you is conclusive; but that’s not true. There are many reasons why a breathalyzer test would read inaccurately, but here our Austin DWI lawyer will home in on just a couple of them.

Close Calls

When someone tests with a blood alcohol content (BAC) close to the 0.08% mark, it makes the accuracy of the test findings that much more important. However, there are a variety of factors that can “tip the scales” of a positive breathalyzer test, and some of them have nothing to do with BAC!

Some factors that can impact breathalyzers include:

Anyone of these presenting factors could arguably be the cause of someone going from the legal limit to over the legal limit.

According to data provided by the Jacksonville DUI lawyers at Monroe & King, P.A., police officers will often look for signs of intoxication by administering preliminary tests. For example, statistics show that 83% of people who fail a one-leg stand test will have a BAC above the legal limit, and 88% of people who fail a horizontal gaze nystagmus test will have a BAC above the legal limit.​

What is the Difference between DWI and DUI in Texas?

Depending on what state you are in, you’ve probably seen both the terms DWI (driving while intoxicated) and DUI (driving under the influence).

In Texas, the difference between DWI and DUI is subtle, but it does exist. It is a matter of age whether you are likely to be charged with a DWI or DUI.

If you are over 21 and are pulled over after drinking and driving, and your blood alcohol concentration is above .08 percent, you will likely be charged with a DWI. But even if you are below .08, you can still face drunk driving charges because Texas is a zero-tolerance state for alcohol impairment on the road.

If you are under the age of 21, however, you can be charged with DUI if you are caught driving with any measurable amount of alcohol in your system, regardless of your BAC. This is true even if you do not appear impaired. Even if you are under 21, the arresting officer may still decide to charge you with a DWI.

The major difference between a DWI charge and a DUI charge is the severity of the penalties. While both DUI and DWI charges will lead to a suspension of your driver’s license, the suspension periods are much shorter for DUI than they are for DWI. For DUI, your license will be suspended for 60 days after the first offense, 90 days after the second offense and 180 days after the third offense. These periods can be increased if you are charged with any other alcohol-related offenses, such as open container in the vehicle. The penalties for DWI are much higher. If you were charged, contact our DWI lawyers Austin from Smith & Vinson Law Firm today.

When is a DWI a Felony in Texas?

In Texas, a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) offense can be classified as a felony under certain circumstances. The specific conditions that elevate a DWI to a felony offense in Texas are as follows:

• Multiple DWI Convictions: If an individual has two or more prior DWI convictions, any subsequent DWI offense can be charged as a felony. The prior convictions could be from any jurisdiction within the United States, not necessarily limited to Texas.
• DWI with Serious Bodily Injury: If a person causes serious bodily injury to another individual while driving under the influence, it can result in a felony DWI charge. Serious bodily injury refers to injuries that create a substantial risk of death or cause serious permanent disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of a bodily member or organ.
• DWI with Death: This offense is commonly referred to as “intoxication manslaughter,” which occurs when an individual operates a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated and, as a result, causes the death of another person, whether it be a passenger in their own vehicle, occupants of other vehicles, or pedestrians. Intoxication manslaughter is a serious offense in Texas and is considered a felony. 
• DWI with Child Passenger: If a person is arrested for DWI while there is a child under the age of 15 in the vehicle, it can be charged as a felony offense. This provision aims to protect children from being endangered due to impaired driving.

It's important to note that the penalties and consequences for felony DWI offenses in Texas can vary depending on the specific circumstances of the case and the defendant's prior criminal record. It is advisable to consult with a legal professional or refer to the Texas statutes to obtain the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding DWI laws.

DWI Resources

• What are the DWI Penalties in TX?
• What are the DWI Penal Codes in TX?

Contact our Austin DWI attorneys at (512) 359-3743 for the powerful DWI/DUI defense counsel you need.