How To Fight A First Offence DWI In Texas: 4 Facts To Know About First Steps, Costs & What Evidence To Collect To Maximize Your Chances Of Success
The first time I was in court, I knew it was going to end badly as soon as the Judge yelled for “Order in the court!”
My attorney responded with, “I’ll take a footlong ham and turkey.”
I’m only kidding, of course. I’ve heard of people getting stuck with some less-than-stellar lawyers, but nothing quite so bad as that.
I assume that by this point, everyone already knows that you need a good lawyer to back you up, and not just any lawyer, but the right one for your case.
You certainly don’t want to hire your brother-in-law, who’s a divorce lawyer, to represent you on a DWI charge, even if he’s a great guy and he costs very little.
This is especially important right now, here in Texas, because the laws are changing and you definitely want a lawyer who’s up-to-date on all the recent laws and amendments related to your case.
Like I said, though, we’re just going to assume that everyone knows that already: you always get the best results by using the right tool for the job, and in this case, that’s a DWI specialist attorney.
Now, with that being said, there are 4 less obvious facts that I think you should probably know before finding your legal expert, to help you get the best representation and maximize your chances of success.
In no particular order, they are:
1. First-Time Offence Is Still Serious
The first thing to know is that in Texas, even a first offence is serious, and it could land you in more than just a little hot water.
With a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of just over 0.08%, you could still end up with fines, a license suspension, and possibly both jail time and a permanent criminal record.
The higher your BAC is, the worse the consequences are, typically. This means that if your BAC reaches over 0.15%, the consequences can get quite severe, with fines doubling and suspensions or potential jail time lasting up to a year.
It’s not worth taking a chance, and I recommend getting the best local specialist attorney you can. Speaking of which, let’s talk about what that costs.
2. Lawyers Cost, But It’s Worth It
One of the most common questions I’m asked is, “How much will my lawyer cost?” and unfortunately, I don’t have a single, simple answer.
It all depends on a bunch of things, including how complex your case is, the quality of your attorney, and so on.
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What I can say is that it should typically be between $5,000 and $10,000 for a first offense, but that number can sometimes dip a little lower, and it can easily go up higher in complex cases.
That’s a big chunk of change to shell out… but it’s better than the alternative of paying nearly as much in fines, plus potential jail time and a permanent criminal record.
3. You Need To Act Fast
If you’ve been charged with a DWI, I recommend calling a lawyer right away, like, really soon.
No, not right this second, but after you’re done reading this article, and you know all the facts you should have before talking to a specialist.
The key is to call them within the first 24 hours if possible, or the first 48 hours at most, to maximize your chances of success.
This is because as soon as the charges are written up, the clock starts, and the faster your attorney can act, the better their chances of preserving evidence they may need at your trial.
By the time 15 days have passed, it’s far too late to save the evidence, and your case is practically done already, because at that point, evidence can be deleted or eliminated unless there’s been a case filed.
4. Several Ways To Fight A DWI
Finally, you should know that there’s more than one way to beat a DWI charge, and your lawyer should know them all.
The key isn’t necessarily trying every possible defence, but in finding where the prosecution is weakest, and striking in the best way you can.
Your lawyer will likely consider and ask about dashcam footage, field sobriety tests, blood or breath testing, and the reason you were pulled over in the first place.
Your job is to try and remember everything as accurately as you can, because they need the best available information to give you the best chance of winning.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that even a first-offense DWI is a serious charge, with serious consequences.
It’s not something that you want to laugh off, because the consequences can be life-altering.
Whether you’re guilty as charged or innocent of all charges, it’s important to get the best specialist lawyer you can, and to provide them with the most accurate and up-to-date information you’ve got.
The rest is up to your lawyer, so be sure to pick a good one.
