aND BrandPoint — Driving while intoxicated is a serious charge. Not only is it costly in terms of fines and legal costs, but if you are convicted, the judgement will alter your life irreparably.
Just a DWI charge doesn’t automatically result in a guilty verdict. There are many reasonable defenses that a defendant can use to win their case in court. The first step to beating a DWI is to find an excellent Houston lawyer who specializes in DWI to form a good strategy for defense.
Depending on how the arrest was conducted, your Houston DWI lawyer might be able to find ways to poke holes in the prosecutor’s case and win your way to freedom. If the arrest wasn’t handled properly, then you might benefit from having the charges either lessened or dismissed altogether.
How to avoid having your Texas driver’s license suspended once arrested for DWI
In the days following your arrest, you will have a court date to determine whether the charges will stand in your trial. Your first day in court will be a hearing to determine whether or not you will have your license suspended. Since you will only have a couple of days to gather information and form a defense, finding a lawyer immediately is imperative to prevent your license from being taken. The lawyer might be able to find cause for the case not to go any further — if there was misconduct during the arrest or if any procedures weren’t followed exactly according to Texas law.
Does failing a breathalyzer test lead to a definite guilty charge?
Most people who are arrested for a DWI think that if they fail a breathalyzer test or a blood alcohol test, then they will definitely be found guilty. However, that is not always the case. There are times when the police officer makes a mistake when conducting the test, or the equipment they use might malfunction. Texas law states that there are specific ways that BAC tests are supposed to be conducted. If procedures were not followed exactly as specified, then your case might be eligible to be thrown out.
A good DWI attorney in Houston will know what to look for in the records surrounding the case. They can go through the report and look for inconsistencies or things that might be out of line. If they find that the blood alcohol test was conducted improperly or that the equipment was not reliable, then they can use that information as grounds for dismissal.
What are the chances that if you only have one offense of DWI in Houston the charges will be dropped?
If it is your first offense, you are more likely to get your charges dismissed than if you are a repeat offender. Due to stricter laws enacted in Texas, however, getting your criminal case dismissed is not going to be easy. That is why it’s so important to get a good attorney. Building a defense to have your charges lessened or dismissed is going to require that you find someone who knows how to find the key to winning your case. An excellent lawyer will know what grounds to use to challenge the charges.
If I am found guilty will I have to have the ignition interlock installed in my vehicle?
Recent DWI laws in Texas require that anyone who is found guilty of a DWI have an ignition interlock system installed on their car. The device is tethered to your car, and it prevents anyone from driving your car unless they breathe into a breathalyzer. Once the car is in motion, it requires that you breathe into it throughout the ride. The only way to avoid the system is either to be found not guilty, or if your case is tried before the law goes into effect.
If you are charged with a DWI in Houston, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be found guilty. The first place to start fighting against the charges is to hire a professional Houston lawyer who specializes in DWI defense. An excellent DWI attorney will know what is necessary to find the right defense to keep you from being found guilty, losing your license, and all the other potential consequences that can come with a DWI charge.
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