Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a serious offense in Richardson, Texas. If you have been charged with a DWI, it is critical that you take action to clear your name of the charges against you.
Contact a dedicated Richardson DWI lawyer at Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg to explore your defense options. Doing so may be the best way to dodge a conviction that could have a devastating impact on your life for years to come. Contact our firm today for a confidential case review.
When to Call a DWI Lawyer in Dallas
Even a first-offense DWI charge can send you to jail. In addition, you will have to pay hefty fines, court costs, and fees. You will lose your driver’s license for a year or more and must attend court-mandated alcohol education courses or substance abuse counseling. If you face drunk driving charges, a DWI lawyer in Richardson can help.
The permanent criminal record can haunt you for years to come. A DWI conviction could potentially interfere with your ability to get a job, rent a home, hold a professional license, or get affordable car insurance.
At Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg, we understand how frightening and confusing it can be to face these charges. The complex legal system provides little leeway for argument, and the police and prosecutor may pressure you to give a statement or enter a guilty plea.
Attorney Randy Isenberg has worked in the Texas criminal justice system as a state district court judge and felony prosecutor, as well as a criminal defense lawyer. He will put more than 30 years of experience to work building the strongest possible case to help you achieve the best potential outcome.
Contact our office today for a free case evaluation.
DWI Laws and Penalties in Texas
According to Texas DWI laws, you commit this offense if you operate a motor vehicle in a public place with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or above. If you are convicted of a DWI in Richardson with a BAC between 0.08 and 0.149, you can expect to face the following penalties.
First Offense
- 3 days to 6 months in jail
- Up to $2,000 in fines
- Suspension of your driver’s license for up to 1 year
Second Offense
- 30 days to 1 year in jail
- Up to $4,000 in fines
- Suspension of your driver’s license for up to 2 years
For a free legal consultation with a DWI lawyer serving Richardson, call now.
Third Offense
- Two to 10 years in prison
- Up to $10,000 in fines
- Suspension of your driver’s license for up to 2 years
Other Criminal Penalties of a DWI Conviction
You must also pay license reinstatement fees, court costs, and expenses related to attending an alcohol safety education course. The judge can also require you to serve supervised probation and community service, install an ignition lock on your car, and attend alcohol abuse counseling or rehab.
If your BAC is 0.15 or above, or if you have an open container or minor child—age 14 or younger—in your car, you will face enhanced charges and even harsher penalties.
In addition to the criminal consequences of a DWI conviction, you can also expect a guilty verdict to have a significant impact on your life. Some of the more common collateral consequences of a DWI conviction in Richardson include:
- Suspension or revocation of your driver’s license
- Suspension or revocation of your professional licenses
- Child custody issues
- Troubles with citizenship or immigration
- Loss of firearm rights
- Temporary loss of voting rights
- Trouble finding affordable housing
- Difficulty finding gainful employment
- Loss of Federal student aid eligibility
- Trouble maintaining relationships with family and friends
- The destruction of your personal and professional reputations
Although a DWI conviction may seem like a minor crime in comparison to some of the other types of criminal offenses you could face in Texas, a DWI conviction could have a lasting impact on your life.
A Conviction Means a Permanent Criminal Record
For most of our clients, it is the permanent criminal record that poses the greatest challenge associated with a conviction. Under Texas law, DWI convictions are not eligible for expunction. This means a conviction is sure to haunt you for the rest of your life.
A criminal record could mean you will face a significant increase in your car insurance premium. Your conviction will show up whenever anyone runs a background check on you, creating potential problems with rental and job applications. If you work as a real estate agent, teacher, nurse, or in another occupation that requires a professional license, you may lose your livelihood due to a drunk driving conviction.
Fortunately, you do not have to accept your fate. A DWI lawyer can help you fight back against these charges and penalties.
Challenging a DWI Charge in Richardson
If you hope to avoid being found guilty of a DWI in Richardson, preparing a powerful defense strategy may be your best option. In some cases, you may be able to enter a pretrial diversion program. By working with the state’s prosecuting attorney to obtain a plea agreement, you may be able to enter a pretrial diversion program by entering a plea of guilty or no contest.
Here, once you complete the terms of your pretrial diversion program, the charges against you will be reduced or dismissed entirely, leaving you without a criminal conviction on your record. However, pretrial diversion programs are often only available to individuals who are first-time offenders or committed non-violent offenses.
If you are not eligible for a pre-trial diversion program, preparing a powerful defense strategy may be a better fit for your case. For DWI charges in Richardson, some of the more common defense strategies used include:
- Illegal search and seizure
- Improper blood alcohol test results
- Inaccurate laboratory testing
- Improper field sobriety tests
- Police misconduct
- Illegal stops
These are just a few of the defense options that could be available depending on the details of your case. Your DWI lawyer in Richardson will need to carefully analyze the evidence against you to determine which approach is most likely to produce a favorable outcome in your case.
How a DWI Lawyer Can Help
At Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg, we protect our clients’ legal rights and help them navigate the criminal justice system. We will answer all your questions and ensure you understand how a conviction can affect your life and future. We will help you explore your options so you can make the best choice for yourself, your family, and your future.
Our team will carefully evaluate and analyze your case to identify potential areas of weakness. We can use these facts to engage the prosecutor in negotiations for the reduction of your charges or the dismissal of your case.
Whatever evidence the prosecutor may claim to have, our team has the resources to mount an aggressive challenge.
For example, if the police lacked reasonable suspicion for pulling you over, we can challenge the validity of the traffic stop. If the officer failed to establish probable cause through field sobriety testing, we can also challenge the admissibility of any breathalyzer and blood test evidence.
Although our approach to building your defense will vary based on the details of your case, we will work tirelessly on your behalf to help you achieve the best possible outcome. In addition to representing you throughout the criminal portion of your drunk driving case, we will also represent you at the DMV suspended license hearing, also known as the Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing.
Getting Help With Your ALR Hearing
In addition to the criminal aspects of your case, the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) will suspend your driver’s license unless you appear at an ALR hearing to challenge the suspension.
When the police pull you over for drunk driving in Richardson, they will confiscate your driver’s license and issue you a temporary driving permit. Unless you submit a formal request for an ALR hearing, the permit will expire, and the TxDPS will suspend your license.
Our ALR hearing legal team can help you navigate this process, represent you at the hearing, and provide a range of other invaluable services.
We will begin by ensuring that the TxDPS receives your request for a hearing and schedules a hearing date. Prior to the hearing, we will prepare you to deliver sworn testimony and help you avoid making any incriminating statements that could threaten your license or compromise your criminal case.
We will make the strongest possible case for you to keep your license. If the judge elects to impose a suspension, we can appeal the decision or petition the court for an occupational license. This would allow you to drive back and forth to work, school, and personal errands.
The ALR hearing also provides us with a valuable opportunity to question the arresting officer in your case under oath. This gives us insight into the prosecution’s evidence and the strength of their case and helps us refine our strategy for your defense.
Get a Free Case Evaluation From a DWI Lawyer in Richardson
You do not have to face Richardson DWI charges alone. Contact Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg today for help. We will work diligently on your behalf to build your case and protect your legal rights.
We offer free case reviews to help you make the right choices. Contact us today.
Call or text (214) 696-9253 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
