Bedford DWI Lawyer

A DWI charge doesn’t automatically make you guilty of the offense. Find out how to clear your name and protect your future by working with a DWI lawyer in Bedford, Texas.

While everyone knows that you can get charged with drunk driving if your blood alcohol content (BAC) exceeds a certain threshold, Texas law actually allows you to be charged if the officer merely feels that you were drunk—regardless of your actual BAC.

If you’ve been arrested for DWI, you absolutely don’t want to plead guilty, as the repercussions are long-lasting and severe. Your best chance for seeing your charge dismissed is working with a Bedford DWI lawyer from the Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy.

Legal Penalties for Driving Drunk in Texas

The courts, police, and the community all view drunk driving negatively, and the punishments imposed by Texas law reflect this. You’ll face fines and surcharges, license suspension, and jail or prison time.

All DWIs that don’t result in an accident require you to spend at least seventy-two hours in jail, pay an annual surcharge for three years, and temporarily lose your license.

Losing your license makes it hard to get to work, the store, school, and everywhere else. To get your license back, you’ll have to pay to take a drunk driving class, pass it, and then pay to have your license reinstated, costing even more time and money.

• Offense 1 – Class B misdemeanor, max fine of $2,000, annual fees of up to $2,000, and up to 180 days in jail
• Offense 2 – Class A misdemeanor, max fine of $4,000, annual fees of up to $2,000, and up to one year in jail
• Offense 3 or Higher – Third-degree felony, max fine of $10,000, annual fees of up to $2,000, and two to ten years in prison
• DWI with a Child Passenger – State jail felony, max fine of $10,000, surcharges totaling $3,000, and 180 days to two years in jail

Penalties Beyond the Courtroom

There are even more repercussions to being convicted of DWI. Your insurance rates will increase, and you may be dropped by your insurer at the next opportunity, forcing you to seek out high-risk insurers that cost thousands more.

Your drunk driving arrest will carry stigma and cause rifts between you and your employer, friends, and family. The criminal record you’ll have may be the longest-lasting problem to contend with. It will cause problems in getting approved for loans, hired for a new job, or even applying for education.

The consequences of a DWI conviction are too severe not to fight, and your Bedford DWI attorney will work tirelessly to protect you from the worst of the punishments.

Defenses Against Intoxicated Driving Charges

Your DWI lawyer will examine the arresting officer’s history and the reason for pulling you over, as well as the sobriety test employed to determine your level of intoxication.

We’ll examine whether the breathalyzer and other equipment used was maintained properly, as well as whether the training and education of the arresting officer was current. We’ll also examine the dashcam footage to ensure the proper procedures were followed.

Our investigations could provide the way to get your DWI charges dismissed or at least reduced.

Connect with a Bedford DWI Defense Attorney

No matter what happened, you can’t take a hit like this to your record, so you need to contact a Bedford DWI lawyer from the Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy. Call us at 817-605-1010 or fill out the contact form below to schedule a free and confidential consultation today.