If you were arrested for driving while intoxicated in Deer Park, TX, you likely had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent when tested by the arresting officer and/or you may have been observed driving impaired. Either way, it is vital to take this charge seriously, and you may want to find an attorney who can help you defend against it. The repercussions of a DWI on your record can significantly impact you and your family’s future. The legal team at Eddington Worley Attorneys at (855) 600-6695 can provide a Deer Park DWI lawyer to help defend against your charges with the goal of getting your charges reduced or dismissed.
Receiving a DWI Can Be Expensive
If you are stopped for suspicion of DWI in Deer Park, you will be asked to show your driver’s license, proof of insurance, and your vehicle’s registration. If you refuse to allow the arresting officer to administer a breathalyzer test or any other test to measure BAC, your driver’s license will be suspended automatically for six months. The severity of the penalties and fines for DWI vary according to whether you have prior convictions for DWI.
Penalties for DWI
If this is your first offense, you may receive:
- A fine of up to $2,000
- Up to six months in jail
- Loss of your driver’s license for up to one year
- An annual fee of $1,000 or $2,000 for three years to keep your license
If this is your second offense, you may receive:
- A fine of up to $4,000
- One month to one year in jail
- Loss of your driver’s license for up to two years
- An annual fee of $1,000, $1,500, or $2,000 for three years to keep your license
If this is your third offense, you may receive:
- A fine of $10,000
- Two to 10 years in prison
- Loss of your driver’s license for up to two years
- An annual fee of $1,000, $1,500, or $2,000 for three years to keep your license
If you are carrying a passenger under 15 years, you may be charged with child endangerment and receive:
- A fine of $10,000;
- Up to two years in a state jail
- Loss of your driver’s license for six months
If you receive two or more DWI convictions within five years, you must install a breathalyzer ignition interlock device that prevents your car from being driven if you have had an alcoholic drink.
A First Time DWI
If this is the first time you have been charged with a DWI, it is important to recognize that judges can choose from several different options in mandating your sentence. If you are convicted for a first offense DWI, unless you are sentenced to probation, you will probably face a minimum of three days in county jail. If the judge denies a probation request, you may be sentenced to community service.
The judge can also rule that you must submit to certain conditions after a conviction. You may be ordered to attend a state-approved rehab facility. You may also have to attend a twelve-hour DWI school. Failure to complete either of these may result in your license being revoked or suspended for up to six months.
If you are convicted of a DWI, your driver’s license can be suspended. If you refuse to take a breathalyzer test or other test when a police officer asks you, you will automatically face penalties, including having your license suspended for up to six months. Even on a first offense, you could be incarcerated from three days to six months.
ALR Hearings
Forty days after receiving a notice of suspension, administrative license revocation will begin. You then have fifteen days to request a hearing to get back your license. You may also have to pay $125 to have your license returned. There is also a surcharge of $1,000 annually from the Texas Dept. of Transportation for three years.
If you or someone you love is in need of a Deer Park DWI Lawyer, call Eddington Worley Attorneys at (855) 600-6695. We can help.
Intoxication Assault and Intoxication Manslaughter
Intoxication assault occurs when an accident occurs that results in serious bodily injury. There must be a direct relationship between the driver’s intoxication and the resulting injuries. If you are convicted of intoxication assault, you can be sentenced to between two and 10 years in prison. If you get probation, you will serve a minimum jail sentence of 30 days, and you may receive a fine of up to $10,000.
Intoxication Manslaughter occurs when a fatality occurs in an accident as a result of the driver’s intoxication. If convicted, you may be imprisoned from two to 20 years, as this is a second-degree felony. If you receive probation, you will still have to serve four months in jail.
Seeking Legal Help From a DWI Lawyer in Deer Park
Given the consequences of a drunk driving charge and conviction, you may want to give yourself the best chance of getting reduced or dismissed charges. DWI attorneys are familiar with the science of blood alcohol testing and can challenge your arrest on these grounds. They also know the proper procedures for arresting and charging an individual with DWI and can challenge your arrest if the police officer failed to follow arrest procedures to the letter.
Call Eddington Worley Attorneys at (855) 600-6695 to speak to a Deer Park DWI lawyer. We will help you handle the implications of your arrest and fight to have your charges reduced or dismissed. We are standing by to fight for you.
