River Oaks DWI Lawyer

A DWI conviction can turn your life upside-down, but a River Oaks DWI attorney can help you dodge a conviction or minimize your punishment.

In recent years, police and courts have ramped up their efforts to catch those who are driving while intoxicated (DWI).

If you’ve been caught up in this net, don’t accept a criminal record and huge expenses without a fight. Contact a River Oaks DWI lawyer from the Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy to see what course of action you should pursue.

Penalties for River Oaks DWI Offenses

Legal punishments are dictated by the number of lifetime offenses, your blood alcohol content (BAC), and whether a child was in the car. Your penalties will also depend on the judge you get, the prosecutor you face, and which DWI lawyer in River Oaks you decide to work with.

The following are Texas’ classes and punishments for each level of DWI violation:

• First Offense – Class B misdemeanor, $2,000 max fine, $3,000 total surcharges, and/or up to 180 days in jail
• Second Offense – Class A misdemeanor, $4,000 max fine, $4,500 total surcharges, and/or up to one year in jail
• BAC of .15 or Higher – Class A misdemeanor, $4,000 max fine, $6,000 total surcharges, and/or up to one year in jail
• DWI with a Minor Passenger – State jail felony, $10,000 max fine, $3,000 total surcharges, and 180 days to two years in jail
• Third Offense or Subsequent – Third-degree felony, $10,000 max fine, $4,500 total surcharges, and two to ten years in prison
  

Insurance Premiums and Social Stigma

Other consequences don’t involve the courts. Insurance rate hikes after a DWI conviction will financially devastate most people—if the fines, surcharges, and time spent in jail don’t do that first. Your insurer may simply drop you as a client at the next opportunity, leaving you with no other choice but high-risk coverage with premiums so high you might not want to drive.

Your tarnished reputation can affect your career choices, advancement, and stability. It may change the assignments you receive and the way coworkers and supervisors treat you, and it may cost you your job altogether.

If you’re convicted, your criminal record can follow you for the rest of your life, continuing to destroy job opportunities, degrade your friends’ and family’s trust, and generally label you a “drunk driver.”

Fortunately, a River Oaks DWI charge lawyer can keep all that from happening.

Defenses That Might Apply to Your Case

We’ll investigate every part of the scene of your arrest, the equipment used, the arresting officer’s training, dash cam footage, and anything else that may be pertinent to your defense.

If, for example, the radar gun or breathalyzer hadn’t been appropriately and regularly tested and maintained, then the reason the police had to pull you over might be unlawful, or the data from the breathalyzer could be inadmissible.

Also, if the officer is behind on training or didn’t fill everything out correctly, then we might be able to use that to get your charges dismissed or at least reduced.

Talk to a River Oaks DWI Attorney

You deserve strong legal representation from a River Oaks DWI lawyer. You’ll find that representation at the Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy. Call us at 817-605-1010 or enter your information below to schedule a consultation today.