Houston DWI Attorney

If a law enforcement officer has a reasonable suspicion that a person is operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, they have the right to make a traffic stop. Immediately the officer will check the state of the driver and look for signs of intoxication such as slurred speech, the smell of alcohol, speaking too loudly, open alcohol containers in the vehicle, and many other signs of impairment they are trained to look for. The officer will usually request the driver perform a series of standardized field sobriety tests. These tests consist of confusing mental and physical tasks that can be very difficult for a scared citizen. Your destiny is totally in the hands of the police officer at this point.

Drunk Driving Offenses in Houston, Texas

For further testing, the officer can request a breath or blood test to check the driver's alcohol level. A refusal can result in an automatic driver's license suspension. If, however, the testing is done and the blood alcohol level is measured at 0.08% or higher, the driver is deemed legally intoxicated and too drunk to operate a motor vehicle. The driver may then be arrested and charged with DWI.

A DWI is a serious criminal offense and it is important to contact a Houston criminal defense attorney following an arrest for legal advice and assistance. My firm, the Law Offices of Ned Barnett, is experienced in defending criminal cases and has a successful record in defending clients faced with serious DWI charges, including underage DWI (DUI), felony DWI, intoxicated assault and intoxicated manslaughter. I, Attorney Ned Barnett, have developed a reputation throughout the Houston area, and I am Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

New DWI Statute – Increased Penalties for 0.15 BAC

According to the updated DWI statute, §49,04(d), should a driver be found operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over 0.15 percent, they could face even more elevated criminal charges. Prior to the update in this statute, this was considered to be a class B misdemeanor. Now, however, it has been enhanced to a class A misdemeanor and includes criminal penalties that involve incarceration between 180 days and a year, along with a monetary fine that ranges between $2000 and $4000.

Houston Lawyer for DWI Defense

Drunken driving is a serious offense in Texas and the penalties can be harsh. Common penalties can include jail time, fines, probation, driver's license suspension, installation of the Ignition Interlock Device and alcohol programs. A defense attorney knowledgeable in all aspects of the law concerning DWIs can help during the entire DWI process from the ALR hearing with the Texas Department of Public Safety, the arraignment and all other steps in the legal proceedings.

My goal in defending a DWI case is helping clients achieve the best possible outcome; I know how to challenge DWI evidence and will do everything possible to help you obtain the just outcome that you deserve. These possibilities include having the charges dismissed, a not guilty verdict or getting the DWI charges reduced to a lesser charge. Make an appointment today for a consultation.

Contact a Houston DWI lawyer following an arrest for a DWI and for legal help with the DWP process.