Haslet DWI Lawyer

A DWI charge doesn’t have to become a conviction. Let a Haslet DWI attorney show you how to minimize your penalties.

Although some people may feel fine to drive after a few beers, it’s a bad idea for many reasons, including the fact that you may be pulled over and charged with a DWI.

Everyone knows there are consequences associated with a DWI conviction, but fewer understand exactly what penalties can be imposed. Even fewer understand the legal defenses lawyers may be able to use.

To give yourself a shot at having your DWI charges dropped, contact a Haslet DWI lawyer at the Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy today.

Penalties for Haslet DWI Convictions

The state of Texas takes drunk driving seriously, which is fairly evident to those who are familiar with the state’s penalties for DWI offenses. But one way in which our state doesn’t differ from the other forty-nine states is in its legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit, which sits at .08.

Still, drunk drivers can expect to receive harsh punishment, particularly if they’re considered to be repeat offenders.

First-time offenders can expect to receive a fine of up to $2,000 and a three- to 180-day jail sentence, as well as lose their drivers license and be forced to pay an annual fee to retain their license once it’s reinstated.

These penalties only increase in severity for those who have previously been convicted of a drunk driving offense in Haslet.

Even harsher penalties are imposed on those who have a child under the age of fifteen in their vehicle at the time of their DWI. This offense is considered a felony. Anyone who’s hit with this felony may be subject to the following:

• Up to $10,000 in fines
• Two years of imprisonment
• Suspension of license for up to six months

The Best Defenses

Fortunately, those charged with a DWI in Haslet are still afforded the rights of any other criminal suspect, which gives you the opportunity to prove your innocence.

It’s usually a tall order to convince the judge that your account is more credible than that of the arresting officer, although you and your legal team may find success in mounting a valid legal defense.

Examples of defenses that you may be able to invoke include the following:

• Lack of Probable Cause – If you are stopped without reasonable cause for suspicion, or for a reason unrelated to your BAC, you may be able to wipe away any evidence that was obtained in this manner.
• Not Being Informed of Miranda Rights – All DWI suspects must be told of their right to remain silent. If you are not, you may be able to use that omission as grounds for dismissal.
• Supporting Witness Statements – Witnesses to your sobriety, who would most commonly include passengers, can help support your claim to innocence. If you were driving erratically due to some other road violation, you may still be hit with an infraction, albeit a lesser one.
• Faulty Sobriety Measures – Sobriety tests aren’t always conducted in an accurate or reliable manner, which can be used as a legal defense against drunk driving in Haslet. Being able to prove that the test was not conducted using standard protocol and procedure can imperil the prosecutor’s case.

Call a Haslet DWI Attorney

If you’ve been charged with a DWI, you can decrease your chance of being convicted by hiring the right defense attorney. To work with a legal team experienced in drunk driving cases, contact the Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy today.

Call us at 817-605-1010 or fill out the online contact form at the bottom of this page to schedule a consultation with a Haslet DWI lawyer.