Houston DWI and DUI Lawyers | Houston Criminal Defense Lawyers
DO NOT TALK TO ANYONE OTHER THAN YOUR LAWYER!
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND PROSECUTORS ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY TELL YOU THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO MAKE A CASE
If You Are Arrested:
SHUT UP & CALL A LAWYER!
Why do so many drunk driving accidents happen in Houston and why is having a Harris County DWI Lawyer so Important?
Houston leads the State of Texas in drunk driving accidents and fatalities as a result of the city's massive population and expansive highway system, which includes I-10, I-45, I-610, SH 99, I-69, and Beltway 8. If you get arrested and charged with a DUI and do not retain an experienced Houston DUI lawyer, you are complicating an already complicated situation.
Additionally, the National Highway and Transportation Association found that 34% of all alcohol-related car crashes that resulted in fatalities were caused by drivers between the ages of 21 and 24. Because Houston has a number of college campuses and universities, including the University of Houston,Rice University, Houston Community College, North Harris Montgomery Community College, Texas Southern University, San Jacinto College - South campus, and the University of St. Thomas, Houston police officers are on constant alert to safeguard against drunk drivers.
How will a Houston DWI Lawyer or Harris County DUI Attorney help me?
A Houston DWI lawyer must be skilled in both civil and criminal proceedings in order to provide you with effective legal representation. DWI attorney should be able to provide you assistance in the following areas:
- Houston Administrative License Revocation and Suspension;
- First Conviction Misdemeanor DWI / DUI Charges;
- Second Conviction Misdemeanor DWI / DUI Charges;
- Felony DWI / DUI Charges such as Intoxication Assault, Intoxication Manslaughter, or Three (3) or more DWI convictions;
- DWI / DUI Charges Against Minors;
- Expungement DWI / DUI Records; and
- Many other matters including assistance with community service aspects of your conviction
Why do you need a Houston Criminal DWI Lawyer instead of a civil Lawyer?
That answer is simple: They practice different areas of the law and, more importantly, they are familiar with the Criminal courts instead of the civil courts. Your DWI charge may end up in a court that the defense attorney regularly practices in such as:
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Harris County 174th Criminal District Court Harris County Criminal Justice Center 1201 Franklin Street, 19th Floor, Houston, TX 77002 Phone: 713-755-6324 |
Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 1 Harris County Criminal Justice Center 1201 Franklin Street, 7th Floor, Houston, TX 77002 Phone: 713-755-6180 |
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Harris County 176th Criminal District Court Harris County Criminal Justice Center 1201 Franklin Street, 19th Floor, Houston, TX 77002 Phone: 713-755-6328 |
Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 2 Harris County Criminal Justice Center 1201 Franklin Street, 7th Floor, Houston, TX 77002 Phone: 713-755-6184 |
Why do you need a Houston DWI Attorney or Houston DUI Lawyer?
If you are arrested for a DWI / DUI in Houston, or Harris County, and are facing criminal charges, then you might be confused, scared, and frustrated with trying to make sense of the complex DWI laws and court proceedings. A Houston criminal defense lawyer that handles DWI offenses will navigate your charges through the criminal court system with the comfort and confidence of an experienced, local Houston DWI attorney.
To combat the problem of drunk driving, the State of Texas has enacted comprehensive and extensive DWI - DUI laws, which result in two completely separate types of trials.
- A criminal trial brought by Harris County Attorney's Office;
- A separate administrative trial dealing with your Texas driver's license suspension brought by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The difficulty of these complicated Texas DWI laws and Texas DUI laws is further compounded by the Harris County special DIVERT program. The DIVERT program provides special local provisions for first time DWI / DUI offenders. Although both trials can require an individual charged with a DWI / DUI offense to make several appearances before the Harris County Criminal Court, it is important to remember that the outcome of one trial has no effect on the other. So, for example, if your DWI attorney requested an Administrative License Revocation Hearing and was not able to prevent your license from being suspended, this would not be considered in the Harris County DUI or DWI criminal case against you.
A Houston DWI attorney or Houston DUI attorney will be able to investigate the circumstances of your case in order to present a winning defense. A qualified Harris County DWI / DUI defense attorney will be able to:
| Determine if there was reasonable suspicion to stop your vehicle |
Call into question the results of the field sobriety test |
Question the officer's ability to administer the Field Sobriety test | Call into question any blood testing results taken after your arrest |
| Whether the officer had probable cause to arrest you | Question the veracity of the arresting officer | Determine if you gave consent to a roadside test | Determine the existence of probable cause to perform chemical testing |
| Determine if you performed well in the field | Determine the quality of the Miranda rights, if any. | Determine the admissibility of inculpatory statements | Determine how inebriated you were |
All of these factors can be crucial in preparing the defense to be used in the case against you. A Houston DWI attorney will also have a firm gasp of the larger constitutional issues that might be at play, and will apply the law to the facts of your case. For example, a Harris County criminal defense DWI attorney could choose to challenge the DWI charge by arguing that the traffic stop itself was unconstitutional or, alternatively, that any search and seizure of you or your car was performed in violation of your constitutional rights under the Fourth Amendment. Additionally, you have a legal right to remain silent, which includes a right to refuse any testing, and a skilled DWI / DUI attorney will be able to safeguard your remaining legal rights, including your right to a jury trial. Consult a Houston DWI / DUI attorney as soon as possible after your DWI / DUI arrest!
Contact a Houston DWI Attorney...Do Not Go It Alone!
Finally, a Harris county Texas DWI lawyer will always look at: (1) the issue of drunk driving, (2) intoxicated driving, (3) impaired driving, (4) legal intoxication which is .08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC); (5) signs of intoxication, (6) if legal impairment was present; (7) license suspension or license revocation, (8) alcohol effects, (9) drug effects, (10) the traffic stop; and (11) whether the arrest was warrantless or with a warrant.
How Much will a Houston DWI Defense Lawyer Charge?
Unlike personal injury lawyers, criminal defense lawyers cannot charge a contingency fee. Therefore, they will undoubtedly charge either a (1) hourly fee, (2) a non-refundable retainer, and/or (3) a combination of both. Obviously, the more serious the charge, e.g., whether it is your first DWI, or DUI, charge or whether it is your third charge is a factor as well as many other factors, are considerations. The best answer is to contact one of the Houston area defense lawyers on this page or this site and ask them what their fee is. The phone call creates no obligation and the initial consultation is free.
Acting quickly to contact a Houston DWI / DUI attorney is critical in order to preserve your driving privileges while the criminal charges against you are pending. Once you are arrested and charged with a Harris County DUI or Harris County DWI, the State of Texas is required to provide you with notice that your license will be suspended. From the date that you receive this notice, you have 15 days to request an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) Hearing in order to challenge this suspension. If you or your attorney do not request this hearing within the 15 day time limit, then your license is automatically suspended and you will lose any right to challenge the suspension later. A skilled DWI / DUI attorney will know what to expect in the Harris County ALR hearing and will be able to assist you in obtaining a hardship license, if possible.
If you have not obtained an attorney at the time of the ALR hearing, the court will require that an attorney is present at the initial stage of the criminal proceedings, or the First Appearance. The purpose of the First Appearance is for the court to determine that you have in fact obtained legal counsel. If you have not obtained legal representation, then the court will appoint an attorney for you due to the severity of the consequences that you could face, if convicted.
Where do Harris County Administrative License Revocation Hearings take place?
After a person is arrested for Driving While Intoxicated and they request an Administrative License Revocation Hearing (within 15 days of the arrest, as explained above), then the Texas Department of Public Safety will refer the case to the State Office of Administrative Hearings to determine whether the license suspension should be upheld for the statutory period. To learn more about the the State's burden of proof at these hearings, please visit our Administrative License Revocation Hearing page. Alternatively, you can contact the Houston State Office of Administrative Hearings Field Office located at:
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The Preserve at North Loop 2020 North Loop 610 West, Suite 111 Houston, TX 77018 Phone: (713) 957-0010 Fax: (713) 812-1001 |
You are entitled to the help of a Houston DWI / DUI Attorney at your Administrative License Revocation Hearing, so contact one of the skilled drunk driving attorneys advertised on this website for help saving your drivers' license.
If you are in need of a bail bonds company, DotCO has provided just some names for your easy reference:
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A-1 Bonding Company 4801 Katy Freeway Houston, Texas 77007-2205 (713) 223-8777 |
A & A Bail Bonding Fianzas 3115 Preston At Spencer Houston, TX, 77002 (281) 487-6801 |
Andy Glenn Bail Bonds 12655 Woodforest Blvd 510 Houston, TX 77015 Phone: (713) 451-5500 |
Action Bail Bonds 38 San Jacinto Houston, Texas 77002 Main: (713) 223.4600 |
Country Bonding II 12729 Bissonnet Street Houston, TX 77099-1259 (281) 575-9700 |
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A-Better Bail Bond 10024 Homestead Road Houston, Texas 77016-3724 (713) 635-8400 |
Ace Bail Bonds 304 North Chesley Street Bellville, Texas 77418 (979) 865-3777 |
Budget Bail Bonds Located in Galveston County 409.935.2559 (281) 992-7226 |
A Friendly Bonding Company 512 Pasadena Boulevard Pasadena, TX, 77506 (713) 475-8100 |
2 Be Free Bonding Company 1404 Congress Street Houston, TX 77002-2139 (713) 223-3733 |
The DWI criminal defense lawyers on this page can represent you in all matters involving your drunk driving charge, including DUI, DWI, SR-22, Refusal to Blow, Revocation Hearing, Occupational Licenses, Breathalyzer Calibration, Challenging field sobriety tests, Misdemeanor DUI and Felony DUI & Felony DWI. These Houston DWI defense lawyers can represent you whether you live in Houston, Aldine, Baytown, Bellaire, Beaumont, Channelview, Cloverleaf, Conroe, Deer Park, Friendswood, Galena Park, Galveston, Hedwig Village, Highlands, Hilshire Village, Humble, Jacinto City, Katy, League City, Magnolia, Mission Bend, Missouri City, Pasadena, Pearland, Porter, Sealy, South Houston, Spring Valley, Stafford, The Meadows, The Woodlands, Waller, West University, or other areas near Houston, TX.