A DWI arrest can leave you worried about jail, your driver’s license, and your future. However, an arrest does not mean you will be convicted. A Pasadena criminal defense lawyer can review the evidence and look for problems in the State’s case. At the Law Office of David A. Breston, we help people understand their rights and fight drunk driving charges.
Choosing the right lawyer can make a major difference in how your DWI case is handled.
Our team works to protect your rights, explain your options, and guide you through each step of the case.
Under Texas law, a person may be charged with DWI for operating a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. Intoxication can mean having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher or losing the normal use of your mental or physical abilities because of alcohol, drugs, medication, or a mix of substances.
This means you could be arrested even when a test result is below 0.08%. An officer may rely on your driving, speech, balance, behavior, or performance on field sobriety tests.
A first DWI is usually a Class B misdemeanor. A conviction may lead to:
The charge can become more serious if your alcohol concentration was 0.15% or higher, you have prior DWI convictions, someone was seriously hurt, or a child younger than 15 was in the vehicle. Depending on the facts and your record, the case could be charged as a higher-level misdemeanor or felony.
A DWI arrest may start two separate cases. The criminal case deals with the DWI charge. The Administrative License Revocation (ALR) case deals with your driving privileges.
In many cases, you have only 15 days after receiving suspension notice to request an ALR hearing. A different deadline may apply when blood-test results arrive later by mail. Missing the correct deadline can cause your license to be suspended without a hearing.
Police officers and testing equipment are not always reliable. Our DWI defense lawyers may examine:
Problems with the stop, arrest, testing, or handling of evidence may weaken the case against you.
A DWI charge can affect your freedom, job, finances, and reputation. Contact our team at the Law Office of David A. Breston for a free, private consultation. We can review your arrest, explain your options, and start building your defense.