A felony DWI conviction in Richardson virtually guarantees that you will spend time in jail or in prison, in addition to paying a substantial fine. You also risk having to serve supervised probation and community service but, more importantly, you will have a permanent criminal record that reflects a felony conviction. This can significantly affect your ability to get a job, rent a house, or find affordable car insurance.
As grim as your future may sound, a felony DWI lawyer in Richardson can offer you hope. Randall Isenberg has spent more than 30 years in the Texas criminal justice system. In addition to his time as a criminal defense attorney, he has served as a felony prosecutor and state court judge. This insight and in-depth knowledge of the legal system can be a big help in the fight for your freedom and future.
Contact our office today at 214-696-9253 to schedule a no-cost case review.
Felony DWI Carries Harsh Penalties in Richardson
Although many drunk driving offenses carry misdemeanor charges in Texas, repeat offenses and more serious DWI incidents qualify for felony charges.
The Texas Penal Code (TPC) defines DWI as operating a motor vehicle in a public place with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or above or in a physical or mental condition that a police officer deems unsafe.
If your BAC tests at 0.15 or above, or if you had any aggravating circumstances — such as an open container or minor passenger — you will face more serious charges. You will also face felony charges if:
- You have two prior DWI convictions
- You caused an accident that resulted in injuries,
- You killed someone while driving drunk,
- You got a DWI with a passenger age 14 or under in your car
Upon conviction for a felony drunk driving charge, you will face penalties as follows, depending on the specific charge.
State Jail Felony DWI
- State jail time: 6 months to 2 years
- Monetary fine of up to $10,000
- A potential 2-year driver’s license suspension
Third-Degree Felony DWI
- Prison time: 2 to 10 years
- Monetary fine of up to $10,000
- A potential 2-year driver’s license suspension
Second-Degree Felony DWI
- Prison, 2 to 20 years
- Monetary fine of up to $10,000
- A potential 2-year driver’s license suspension
Richardson Felony DWI Lawyer Near Me (214) 696-9253
First-Degree Felony DWI
- Prison, 5 years to life
- Monetary fine of up to $10,000
- A potential 2-year driver’s license suspension
You also face the likelihood of community supervision (i.e., supervised probation), community service (up to 1,000 hours), court-required substance abuse treatment, education, or counseling (at your cost), and having to install an ignition interlock device on any vehicles you own or drive.
Once your driver’s license suspension is up, you will have to pay a surcharge to reinstate your driving privileges as well as an annual fee of $1,000-$2,000 for three years to keep your license in force.
Upon a felony conviction in Texas, you may also lose your right to own or possess a firearm.
The Importance of Having a Felony DWI Lawyer
Whether you were arrested for your third offense DWI, for intoxication assault, intoxication manslaughter, or driving drunk with a minor child passenger, a conviction will result in overwhelming penalties.
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We Protect Your Rights
We recommend you call us for a free consultation with a felony DWI drunk driving lawyer before you give any statements to the police or make any decisions about your future. One wrong move could cost you your freedom and your future.
We will be there for you during questioning, ensuring you do not say anything that might jeopardize your case. We will continue to protect your rights throughout the process.
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We Put Our Resources to Work for You
The Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg puts every one of our resources to work in your defense. We protect your legal rights and ensure you have the information you need to make well-informed decisions about your future.
Our legal team goes to work as soon as you call us, investigating the circumstances of your case and analyzing every scrap of evidence. Our goal is to identify mistakes made in your case, violations of your legal rights, and any other information that could help us with your defense.
Many of our clients might have faced a wrongful conviction, based on flawed chemical testing for BAC and errors made by the police.
We Work with Experts to Prove Your Case
We have subject matter experts at our disposal that can provide testimony regarding your potential state of intoxication. Our breathalyzer and chemical BAC testing experts can identify any errors or problems with your test procedures or results. If you caused an accident, we can work with accident reconstruction experts to determine exactly how the accident occurred.
Our team will work diligently to build the strongest possible case. We will then use that information to negotiate with the prosecutor to have your charges reduced or dismissed. Or, if we must make your case in court, we will prepare for a trial.
License Suspension for a Felony DWI in Richardson
After an arrest for felony drunk driving, the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) initiates the Administrative License Revocation (ALR) process. The purpose of ALR is to impose driver’s license suspensions for those individuals who drove while intoxicated.
Within 15 days of your DWI arrest, you must make a formal request to schedule your ALR hearing. At the hearing, you and the arresting officer will present sworn testimony before an Administrative Law Judge. Based on that testimony, the judge will decide whether to impose a license suspension and, if so, for how long.
What to Expect at the Hearing
Although this hearing will determine the outcome of your license, it also presents an important opportunity for our legal team to learn more about the prosecution’s evidence against you. If you make any self-incriminating statements under oath, the prosecutor can use that information against you in your criminal trial.
We will represent you at the hearing, to ensure that you that you do not make any incriminating statements and to have the chance to question the arresting officer under oath.
We will make the strongest possible case for you to keep your license. If the judge does impose a suspension, we can appeal that suspension or petition the court to grant an occupational license, which will allow you to drive to work, school, court, doctor’s appointments, and other necessary personal business.
Schedule a No-Cost Consultation with a Felony DWI Lawyer in Richardson
To help you decide on the next step, the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg offers a complimentary case evaluation.
Do not try to fight these charges on your own. Contact us today at 214-696-9253 to schedule an appointment with a DWI lawyer in Richardson.
Call or text (214) 696-9253 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
