What should I do if I have been arrested for a DWI in Houston?

A DWI (driving while intoxicated) offense is a serious criminal matter under Texas law, so if you have been arrested for a DWI it is crucial to reach out to a Houston DWI attorney so that you can understand what options are available to you.In Texas, a person is legally intoxicated if his or her blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.08 percent or higher, or the person is under the influence of drugs. Minors will be charged with a DWI (driving while intoxicated) if any alcohol is detected in their system.

Can I refuse a to give a breath or blood sample?

Under Texas law, if a person refuses a breath or blood sample for testing, his or her license may be suspended for 180 days. If a person fails a submitted test, his or her license may be suspended for 90 days.

What are the penalties for a DWI in Texas?

Generally, when you are arrested for drunk driving, you have a limited amount of time to act to save your driver’s license from being suspended. If you do not ask a hearing from the Department of Public Safety within 15 days, your driving privileges will automatically be suspended regardless of whether or not you are actually convicted of a DWI.The state of Texas imposes strict penalties for individuals who are convicted of a DWI. A first-time offender may spend anywhere from three to 180 days in jail and pay a fine of up to $2,000. A second conviction can result in anywhere from 30 to 365 days in jail and a fine of up to $4,000. A third conviction can result in jail time between two and ten years as well as a fine of up to $10,000. In some cases, the court will also require that you have an ignition interlock device installed in your vehicle.A DWI conviction can have serious and life-changing consequences for you, even beyond the penalties required by law. It can affect your personal and professional life, and having a criminal record can affect job and housing opportunities as well. A Houston DWI lawyer understands the severity of this crime and should work diligently to avoid conviction or at least minimize the consequences to you.

DUI & DWI Lawyers

Browse By StatesCities

Find DUI & DWI Lawyers by State

Find DUI & DWI Lawyers by City

FAQ Lawyers Get Listed

Related Practice Areas

Cannabis & Marijuana Law
Criminal Law
Personal Injury
Traffic Tickets

Arrested or charged with a DUI or DWI?

Driving under the influence (DUI) means operating a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol or drugs that have impaired a person's mental or motor skills. In most states, a person will be considered "impaired" if they exhibit objective signs of intoxication, or if they have a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher. Many states also have zero tolerance laws for drivers under 21, where any non-zero BAC level constitutes an offense. Most states also hold commercial drivers, such as truck drivers, to a more rigorous standard.

Law enforcement officers use a variety of tests, such as field sobriety tests and breathalyzers, to determine whether a driver is impaired by alcohol. In some jurisdictions, you have a right to refuse some of these tests, but in other jurisdictions you may be required to submit to them. It is important to know the law in your particular state, and to consult a DUI attorney if you are facing charges.

DUI lawyers are criminal defense attorneys focused on representing clients facing DUI/DWI/OWI charges. Each state has different DUI laws. An experienced DUI lawyer will be able to evaluate the case against you and present your options on how to best limit the impact of the charges against you. DUI lawyers also handle related cases such as driver's license reinstatement and DUI record expungement.

Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC): The percentage of alcohol in a person's blood.

Field Sobriety Test: Any one of several roadside tests that can be used to determine whether a driver is impaired.

Researching Attorney Discipline

Find out whether an attorney has ever been disciplined.

Resources for Lawyers

Toggle tool

(0) Recent (0)

(0) Saved (0)

(0/3) Compare (0/3)

There are no recently viewed profiles.

View all

There are no saved profiles.

View all

There are no profiles to compare.

Compare

Feb	MAR	Apr
	04
2020	2021	2022