DWI Dallas Lawyer – DWI Defense Attorney in Dallas, Texas
If you have been arrested or charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) in Dallas, Texas, you should take the charge seriously. A DWI case can affect your driver’s license, employment, insurance, finances, and freedom. An experienced Dallas DWI defense attorney can review the circumstances of your arrest, investigate the evidence, and help you understand your legal options.
The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg represents individuals facing DWI and other alcohol- and drug-related criminal charges in Dallas and throughout North Texas.
Call (214) 696-9253 for a free case evaluation. We are available 24/7 and Se Habla Español.
Dallas DWI Defense
A DWI arrest does not automatically mean you will be convicted. Every case is different, and the prosecution must prove the allegations against you.
Texas law generally makes it a criminal offense to operate a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. Texas law defines intoxication in terms that can include having a blood or breath alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, or not having the normal use of mental or physical faculties because of alcohol, drugs, or another substance.
A Dallas DWI defense attorney may examine numerous aspects of the case, including:
- Why you were stopped or detained
- Whether the officer had reasonable suspicion or probable cause
- Field sobriety testing
- Breath test procedures and results
- Blood testing and laboratory procedures
- Statements made during the traffic stop or arrest
- Dash camera and body camera footage
- Whether proper procedures were followed
- Whether there are problems with the State’s evidence
- Prior DWI convictions
- Whether an accident or injury was involved
What Are the Penalties for a DWI in Texas?
The potential consequences depend on the specific circumstances of the case and the defendant’s prior record.
Under Texas law, a standard first DWI offense is generally a Class B misdemeanor with a minimum 72-hour term of confinement. Enhanced penalties can apply in certain circumstances, including cases involving an open container, prior DWI convictions, a child passenger, serious bodily injury, or death.
The Texas Department of Public Safety also explains that DWI convictions can result in consequences involving driver-license suspensions, education programs, ignition-interlock requirements, probation, and other requirements.
Because the consequences can vary substantially from one case to another, it is important to have your specific situation reviewed by a Dallas DWI lawyer.
DWI and Your Driver’s License
A DWI arrest can create both a criminal case and a separate administrative driver’s-license issue.
Texas has an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) process that can result in a driver’s-license suspension following a DWI arrest involving a breath or blood test refusal or certain test results. The ALR proceeding is separate from the criminal DWI case.
If you have received paperwork concerning an ALR suspension, timing can be extremely important. The Texas Department of Public Safety states that an ALR hearing request generally must be made within 15 days after receiving the applicable notice.
What Happens After a Dallas DWI Arrest?
Every case is different, but a DWI case may involve several stages, including:
- Traffic stop or investigation
- Field sobriety testing
- Arrest
- Breath or blood testing
- Driver’s-license consequences
- Criminal court proceedings
- Review of evidence and potential defenses
- Negotiations, motions, hearings, or trial
- Resolution of the criminal case
An attorney can review the evidence and explain what options may be available in your particular case.
DWI Blood and Breath Tests
Blood and breath evidence can be an important part of a DWI prosecution. However, the existence of a test result does not mean that every aspect of the testing process is beyond examination.
Depending on the circumstances, an attorney may investigate issues involving the collection, handling, analysis, documentation, and presentation of chemical-test evidence.
The Texas Department of Public Safety notes that a person may face an administrative license suspension for refusing a blood or breath specimen or for providing a specimen that meets applicable statutory thresholds.
Field Sobriety Tests
Police officers may use standardized field sobriety tests during a DWI investigation. These tests can become part of the evidence in a criminal case.
However, field sobriety testing takes place under real-world conditions. Weather, road conditions, footwear, medical or physical limitations, lighting, nervousness, and other circumstances can potentially affect performance.
A DWI defense attorney can review how the tests were administered and how the officer described the results.
First DWI, Second DWI, and Felony DWI
A person’s prior criminal history can make a significant difference in a DWI case.
A first DWI may be treated differently from a second or subsequent DWI. Texas law also provides enhanced penalties for certain repeat offenses and for DWI cases involving serious injury or death.
If you have previously been arrested or convicted for DWI, tell your attorney about those cases. Prior convictions can affect the classification and potential punishment of a new charge.
DWI With a Child Passenger
Texas law provides enhanced consequences when a person is charged with DWI while transporting a passenger younger than 15 years of age. The Texas Department of Public Safety identifies DWI with a passenger under 15 as a state jail felony.
These cases require immediate attention because the potential consequences can be significantly more serious than those associated with a standard DWI charge.
DWI Involving an Accident or Injury
A DWI case can become considerably more serious when an accident results in injury or death.
Texas law includes separate offenses for intoxication assault and intoxication manslaughter, with substantially more serious potential penalties than a standard DWI.
If your DWI arrest involved an accident, serious injury, or death, you should speak with a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.
What Should You Do After a DWI Arrest?
If you have been arrested for DWI in Dallas, consider taking the following steps:
- Do not discuss the facts of your case publicly or on social media.
- Preserve paperwork you received from law enforcement or the court.
- Keep track of any driver’s-license notices and deadlines.
- Do not ignore court dates.
- Avoid discussing the details of your case with people other than your attorney.
- Contact a DWI defense attorney promptly.
The sooner an attorney can review the case, the sooner potential issues with the stop, arrest, testing, and evidence can be identified.
Why Choose the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg?
The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg focuses on criminal defense and represents clients facing DWI and other criminal charges in Dallas and throughout North Texas.
Our office is conveniently located at:
4303 N Central Expy
Dallas, TX 75205
We offer free case evaluations, and our office is available 24/7. Spanish-language assistance is also available.
Contact a Dallas DWI Attorney
A DWI charge can have consequences that extend well beyond the courtroom. If you or someone you know has been arrested for DWI in Dallas, contact the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg to discuss your situation.
Call (214) 696-9253 today for a free case evaluation.
You can also send us an email or use our convenient Live Admin Chat.
Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg
4303 N Central Expy
Dallas, TX 75205
Phone: (214) 696-9253
Available 24/7 | Se Habla Español
This website provides general information and is not intended to provide legal advice. Every criminal case is different. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this page or contacting the firm through this website.
