Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) / Boating While Intoxicated (BWI)
Houston DWI Attorney
Kingwood, Atascocita, and Humble DWI Attorney
Even if you have never been convicted of a crime, you can still face very serious consequences if you are charged and convicted with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). If you have been pulled over by a Texas law enforcement agent and he or she discovers through chemical testing that you have a Blood Alcohol level of .08% or greater, you will likely be charged with driving while intoxicated. Texas DWI laws are very strict and designed to eliminate drunk driving.
What to do if you have been arrested for DWI
The first thing to do after you have been arrested and released for DWI is to contact a Houston drunk driving attorney immediately. There are many issues at stake that must be dealt with promptly. For example, if you have been arrested for DWI, you only have 15 days to request an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing to contest the suspension of your driver’s license. If you do not request a hearing within that timeframe, your license will automatically be suspended.
Penalties:
If convicted for your first DWI, you could be subject to all or some of the following penalties:
First DWI:
- Up to 180 days in jail (minimum 3 days if jail is necessary)
- Up to a $2,000.00 fine
- Up to 1 year license suspension
- Probation
- Mandatory attendance at a MADD Victim Impact Panel
- Class B Misdemeanor (In most cases)
The more prior DWI convictions you have on your record, the more serious the consequences will be if you are convicted of a subsequent drunk driving crime. The punishments for multiple DWIs include the following:
Second DWI:
- Up to a year in jail
- Up to a $4,000.00 fine
- Community service
- Probation
- 2 year license suspension
- Class A misdemeanor charge
Third DWI:
- Up to 10 years in prison
- Up to a $10,000 fine
- Community service
- Probation
- 3rd degree felony charge
- 2 year license suspension
If you have been charged with a second, third or subsequent DWI, please do not hesitate to contact an experienced and aggressive Houston drunk driving lawyer as soon as possible. The legal team at the Randolph & Almonte, PLLC is experienced and has the proven skills to handle all types of DWI charges. Though multiple DWI convictions tend to be more complicated, that does not necessarily mean you have to spend time in jail. Your attorney will zealously defend your rights throughout your case.
Felony DWI Defense Lawyer in Humble, Kingwood, and Atascocita
There are three circumstances that could be involved in your DWI that would result in the possibility of facing a felony charge and subsequent enhanced penalties if you are convicted:
- If you have received your third (or more) DWI in a certain period of years, you will most likely be charged with a third degree felony. This will result in up to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
- If you have been allegedly driving drunk with a minor child in your vehicle, you can also face a felony charge.
- If you were involved in an accident while driving drunk that resulted in the death of another person, you can face a second degree felony charge, resulting in up to 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
Houston Boating While Intoxicated Attorney
Kingwood, Atascocita, and Humble Boating While Intoxicated Attorney
Boating While Intoxicated is quite a serious charge to face. If you have been arrested for being intoxicated while operating a boat in the Houston area, it is advised that you contact a Houston boating while intoxicated lawyer immediately. This is by law a misdemeanor, and there is a minimum of 72 hours confinement as penalty. Water sports are very popular in our state and there is a proliferation of boaters on our lakes. In turn, law enforcement is always on the lookout for anyone who appears to be operating their boat or other water vessel in an unsafe manner. What may have began as a fun outing can quickly turn into a serious legal situation if you are arrested for BWI.