DWI

Despite being a victimless crime, DWI carries tremendous consequences under the law. If convicted, you may spend six months in jail, lose your driver’s license for up to a year,  be forced to have a breath testing machine installed in your car, and pay thousands of dollars over a period of years just to keep your license. Social stigma and damage to your reputation can be even worse. Losing your license could be extremely disruptive to your work schedule and daily life. A conviction on your record follows you for years.

If you have been charged, it’s imperative to hire a DWI attorney immediately.  In most cases, you only have 15 days to request a hearing to contest the automatic suspension of your driver’s license.  A skilled criminal defense attorney can coordinate the information gained in the driver’s license suspension hearing with your court case to contribute to the best result on your criminal charge.

What is Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)?

Driving While Intoxicated means driving without the normal use of mental or physical faculties due to the consumption of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of those substances.  Intoxication is defined as .08 BAC (blood alcohol concentration), but it may also be inferred from other circumstances such as failed standard field sobriety tests, careless driving, etc.  A first time DWI is normally charges as a class B misdemeanor, though it can be more serious depending on the circumstances.

First Offense

• 3-180 days in jail
• Fine up to $2,000
• Loss of driver’s license up to a year

Second Offense

• 1 month-1 year in jail
• Fine up to $4,000
• Loss of driver’s license up to two years

Third Offense

• 2-10 years in prison
• $10,000 fine
• Loss of driver’s license up to two years

DWI with a Child Passenger

Normally a class B misdemeanor, DWI with a Child Passenger is a State Jail Felony punishable by:

• Up to two years in a state jail
• Fine up to $10,000
• Loss of your driver’s license for 180 days

How Much Alcohol Makes You “Drunk”?

Although there is no hard and fast rule, many people find that a drink–one 12 oz. beer, 5 oz. of wine, or 1.5 oz. of 80 proof liquor–contributes roughly 0.02 to their BAC.  Body size, amount of food ingested around the same time, and drinking habits also affect how quickly the body metabolizes alcohol in the blood stream.  Professional colleague Robert Slim presents more information and an educational table here.

Contact a DWI Lawyer in Dallas Today

Being convicted of a DWI or related offense can take a heavy toll on your employment, relationships, freedom, and reputation. If you have been charged with DWI, contact Attorney Walker Fults for a free case evaluation and a hard-hitting defense.