Texas imposes strict driving while intoxicated fines and penalties on drivers that operate vehicles in public places while intoxicated. If you have been charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Humble, TX, you may face misdemeanor or felony charges. Regardless of the types of charges, we can help you fight. Contact a Humble DWI lawyer from the legal team at Eddington Worley Attorneys at (855) 600-6695 for a no-cost case consultation to discuss your legal options.
Penalties and Fines for DWI Offenses
First-time DWI offenders face a class B misdemeanor charge. That charge comes with:
- Between 72 hours to 180 days in jail
- A fine of up to $2,000
- A license suspension from 90 days to one year
If this was your second offense, a class A misdemeanor, you could face:
- From 30 days to one year in jail
- A fine of up to $4,000
- A license suspension from 180 days to two years
You may also be sentenced to:
- Probation
- Community service
- Mandatory attendance at a DWI education program
- Mandatory inpatient or outpatient alcohol treatment
- Suspended or revoked driver’s license
- Paying restitution for damages from the DWI
If you caused an accident that led to injuries or death, you could face third-, second-, or first-degree felony charges.
The Repercussions of Having a Felony on Your Record
If you are convicted of a felony DWI, your life will become more complicated almost immediately. With a felony on your record, you may:
- Be fired or have trouble finding a new job
- Lose your housing and have difficulty renting an apartment
- Be unable to get a mortgage
- Be unable to get a loan
- Be unable to own and use firearms
- Be unable to vote
- Be unsuccessful in a child custody hearing
How a DWI Lawyer Can Help You
A DWI lawyer knows how to build a strong and effective defense to these charges.
Requesting a License Suspension Hearing
We can assist you in requesting an administrative license revocation hearing (ALR) to respond to the suspension of your driver’s license and to have all your driving privileges reinstated. We must make the request within 15 days of your arrest, or your license will be automatically suspended. We will stand by you at your hearing.
This hearing is your chance to protect your right to drive.
At the hearing, you and your attorney will get a good look at the evidence the prosecution has, which can help you in your criminal case. You and your attorney can prepare for the criminal trial regardless of whether you are considering taking a plea deal offered by the prosecution before the trial.
Call the attorneys at Eddington Worley Attorneys at (855) 600-6695 for a free case consultation with a Humble DWI lawyer.
Proving the Officer Did Not Have Probable Cause To Pull You Over
When a law enforcement officer stops you on suspicion of DWI, they must have probable cause to pull you over. An officer cannot simply pull you over to check if you are intoxicated. They must establish a valid reason for doing so (e.g., inability to maintain speed, driving without headlights, weaving in and out of lanes, failure to stop at a stop sign).
Once they pull you over, they must also establish reasonable suspicion of your intoxication. For example, if your eyes appeared bloodshot or they smelled alcohol, they may ask you to undergo field sobriety tests. After this, they may ask you to take a breathalyzer test and take you to the station to undergo further evidential breath testing.
A DWI attorney can challenge the findings from the tests, the way the test was administered, the way the test results were handled and analyzed, and other reasons why the test results may not have been accurate.
Protecting Your Rights
It is vital to know what your rights are in case you have been arrested for a DWI. Some of your guaranteed rights are:
- Your right to have an attorney
- Your right to have a jury trial
- Your right to have a copy of the police report
- Your right to defend yourself by calling into question the constitutionality of how and why you were arrested
- Your right to question the use of the blood and breath sobriety tests
Possible Defenses to DWI Charges
It is important to remember that you are innocent unless you are proven guilty and that you deserve an affirmative defense in the US. Your attorney can use a strategic defense to help reduce or dismiss your charges, or minimize your penalties and fines, by:
- Challenging the results of the field sobriety tests, blood tests, and breathalyzer tests
- Attempting to suppress evidence that may be inadmissible in a court of law
- Challenging the arresting officer’s handling of the field sobriety tests
- Asserting that the arresting officer did not have probable cause to stop you
- Hiring expert witnesses to find contradictions or inaccuracies in the police report
- Challenging witness testimony
- Proving the accident was not your fault or a result of the DWI
Attempting to handle a DWI case on your own may not be in your best interest. What may be in your best interest is to remain silent, not post anything on social media, or make any statements to anyone about the circumstances of your arrest.
If you have been charged with driving while intoxicated, you want a Humble DWI lawyer who can help you through this difficult time in your life. Contact Eddington Worley Attorneys at (855) 600-6695 for a free case consultation. We will fight to protect your rights so that you can get on with your life.