If you went to a party this past Halloween, then you hopefully planned your transportation home accordingly. However, in the event that you were caught driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, then you may be facing some severe consequences. The state of Texas takes DWI offenses seriously, and it is no different on Halloween night. Continue reading to learn the different types of DWI penalties and how an experienced McAllen, Texas DWI lawyer at Angel Davila Law can work to build your defense.
What are the consequences of a DWI on Halloween night?
For a first-offense DWI, the Texas courts may go as far as imposing additional fines alongside the standard ones, which can be anywhere between $3,000 to $6,000. That said, the standard consequences are as follows:
- Jail for, at most, 180 days.
- A $2,000 fine.
- A license suspension for, at most, one year.
- Mandatory attendance of a DWI education or alcohol treatment program.
- Installation of an ignition interlock device (IID).
As for a second-offense DWI, the Texas courts will consider you a repeat offender, and they will penalize you as such. The consequences are as follows:
- Jail for, at most, one year.
- A $4,000 fine.
- A license suspension for, at most, two years.
- Mandatory attendance of a DWI education or alcohol treatment program.
- Installation of an IID.
And lastly, for a third-offense DWI, the Texas courts will consider this a very serious criminal offense. And with this, the consequences can be life-altering and affect your future opportunities for employment, housing, child visitation, etc. They read as follows:
- Jail for, at most, 10 years.
- A $10,000 fine.
- A license suspension for, at most, two years.
- Mandatory attendance of a DWI education or alcohol treatment program.
- Installation of an IID.
What legal defenses can I take against my DWI offense?
If on Halloween night, you were wrongfully charged with a DWI, you cannot stand idly by. This is because such a charge will give you a permanent criminal record, along with the consequences listed above. It is unfair if you must suffer through this if you are innocent.
That said, you must reflect on the moment you were pulled over by a law enforcement officer and detect if any actions made this an illegal or improper stop. This will be the best way to build your legal defense.
For one, you may be able to argue that the law enforcement officer incorrectly led the field sobriety tests. That is, they may have not read the full instructions, performed a full demonstration, or considered your health-related issues when they deduced that you were above the legal limit of intoxication.
Nonetheless, for your legal defense, you must not proceed without a skilled Hidalgo County, Texas criminal defense lawyer. Give us a call today.
