Skilled Defense Attorneys for Texas DWI Charges
Every year, people from all walks of life find themselves charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI), often on the basis of arbitrary traffic stops and minimal evidence.
A drunk driving charge can affect your driver's license and criminal record. It can even land you in jail. But you have rights, and a skilled attorney can protect those rights. At the Schneider Law Firm, P.C., in Arlington, Texas, we provide our clients with aggressive criminal defense against DWI charges (known in some other states as DUI).
We are not afraid to take DWI cases to trial when necessary to protect our clients' interests, but we also explore other options when appropriate. If you've been accused of drunk driving, don't hesitate to contact us for a free consultation. Fighting Your arrest for DWI in Criminal Court
If you were arrested for DWI or another alcohol related offense, you will end up in court. Do not let valuable time slip by while you wait for your first court date. Experienced defense attorneys know that this time is critical for gathering evidence, requesting videos of the arrest, subpoenaing lab reports, questioning witnesses and requesting licenses revocation hearings.
At the Schneider Law Firm, we recognize the fact that most DWI arrests come down to the opinion of one police officer and we prepare from the beginning to show how that opinion was incorrect.
What's the difference between DWI and DUI?
In Texas, these are two different crimes. DUI is specifically a crime charged against individuals under the age of 21 that operate a motor vehicle with any detectable amount of alcohol in their system. Conversely, DWI refers to the operation of a motor vehicle by an individual (of any age) over a certain amount. A person under 21 can still be charged with DWI if their are facts to suggest that the amount of alcohol in the persons system has risen above the threshold for DWI.
It is not illegal for a person over the age of 21 to drink alcohol and drive!
You read that correctly. Restaurants, sporting events, and lounges have parking lots because responsible drinking and driving is LEGAL. If you feel as if you were unfairly arrested for exercising your right to drink responsibly, call our office now.
Taking Immediate Steps to Save Your Driver's License
The most immediate consequence of a drinking and driving arrest is the possible loss of your license. Texas has an administrative license revocation (ALR) procedure that is administered separately from the criminal justice system. Even if you have not yet received notice of your first criminal court date, the ALR process may have already begun.
To have a chance of keeping your driver's license, you must request an ALR hearing from the Texas Department of Public Safety within 15 days of your arrest.
Call us at 817-588-3068 to have our attorneys take immediate action.
The statements and arguments made at your ALR hearing can have an impact on your criminal case. If you try to go to the ALR hearing without a DWI defense lawyer, you could end up saying the wrong thing and hurting your chances of avoiding a criminal conviction.
Fighting the Consequences of DWI Conviction
A DWI conviction can have serious long-term consequences. In addition to license revocation, penalties for drunk driving include jail time and fines. A criminal record for DWI can also have an impact on your future employment.
If you have been pulled over for DWI, you should know that you have an absolute right to remain silent. You also have a right to refuse any test that the officer requests that you take. This includes the right to refuse to take the HGN test (commonly referred to as the "follow the pen" test), the One Leg Stand Test, and the Walk and Turn Test. If you do not feel comfortable taking these tests, politely state to the officer that "I would like to speak to my attorney and do not wish to participate in these tests." There are several options for defending against DWI charges, including looking closely at whether the traffic stop was legal. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can begin investigating your case and pursuing opportunities to fight the charges.
