If you have been arrested for a DWI, you may feel helpless as you face serious charges like the suspension of your driver’s license or even jail time. However, you do not need to go through the Texas criminal justice system alone. With the help of a trusted criminal justice attorney, you can build a strong defense case that may result in the charges against you being reduced or dropped altogether.
If you have been accused of driving while intoxicated, you may be at risk of facing serious penalties if you are convicted. Sophia Martinez Law is a Texas criminal defense law firm helping clients protect their rights and interests after a DWI arrest. Former Assistant District Attorney Sophia C. Martinez can help you avoid losing your driver’s license or other legal repercussions by constructing a solid strategy and using her over 25 years of experience as a Criminal Defense Attorney to assist with your defense case.
What Are 10 of the Most Common DWI Defense Cases?
When it comes to a DWI case, no two cases are alike. Because of this fact, the defense strategy chosen must be tailored to the specific details of your unique case. When you work with an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Texas, they can help you choose the best defense strategy for your case to best protect your rights and interests.
Some of the most common defense strategies for individuals who have been arrested for driving while intoxicated in Texas include the following:
- Challenging field sobriety tests
- Challenging blood tests
- Challenging breath tests
- Challenging drug recognition expert testimony
- Seeking the suppression of evidence to include expert witness testimony
- Challenging the testimony of police officers
- Claiming that law enforcement violated your constitutional rights, like not having a reasonable suspicion to pull you over in the first place
- Claiming that law enforcement engaged in an unconstitutional search and seizure of your property or your person
- Proving that an accident stemming from the DWI was not your fault
- Using police reports from the accident to challenge the police officer’s testimony
When a person is arrested for a DWI in Texas, the state must prove the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt. When you work with a Texas criminal defense attorney, they can use their experience to find where there may be holes in the state’s case against you and build a defense case based on their lack of evidence or violation of your rights.
Penalties You May Face if Convicted of a DWI in Texas
If you were arrested for a DWI in Texas, you may face serious penalties if convicted. That is why it is vital to have the help of a criminal defense attorney who can help you build a strong defense case. If you are convicted of a DWI, you may face the following charges:
- First offense: Driver’s arrested for a first offense DWI may face a fine of up to $2,000, up to 180 days of jail time, and the loss of their driver’s license for up to 6 months.
- DWI -first offense With Blood or Breath of .15 or HIGHER: Driver’s arrested for a first offense DWI W/BAC .15 or higher may face a fine of up to $4,000, up to a year in jail time, and the loss of their driver’s license for up to 6 months.
- Second offense: In these cases, drivers may be fined up to $4,000, spend up to a year in jail, and could lose their driver’s license for a maximum of two years.
- Third offense: When a driver has been arrested for a DWI three or more times, they may be charged with a $10,000 fine, a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, and the loss of their license for up to two years.
- DWI W/ Child passenger <15years old: When a driver has been arrested for a DWI w/ Child Passenger < 15 years old, they may be charged with a $10,000 fine, a maximum sentence of two years in a State Jail Facility, and the loss of their license for up to two years.
The charges that a person may face will depend on the specific details of their case and their arrest record. To get help ensuring your rights and interests are protected following a DWI arrest in Texas, contact a trusted lawyer today.
Get Help From a Texas DWI Defense Lawyer Today
Attorney Sophia C. Martinez, a former prosecutor and defense attorney with over 25 years of experience, will work hard to help clients charged with a DWI build a strong defense. Former Assistant District Attorney Sophia C. Martinez is dedicated to helping protect your rights and interests for your DWI case.
To schedule a free evaluation with Attorney Sophia C. Martinez regarding your Texas DWI defense case, contact Sophia Martinez Law today by completing our contact form or calling (210) 226-3000. Phone lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We also speak Spanish.