McKinney DWI Defense Lawyers

Attorneys Helping Clients Defend Against DWI Charges in McKinney, TX

Alcohol and drugs can cause impairments that can affect a person's ability to drive safely. Police officers pay attention to the ways people are driving, looking for signs of impairment. When they stop drivers, they may be looking for signs of intoxication, and they may arrest drivers and charge them with driving while intoxicated (DWI). People in these situations may face serious penalties, and they will need to determine what steps they can take to avoid a criminal conviction and address any other issues that may affect their driver's licenses, their careers, or other parts of their lives.

The attorneys at Texas Defense Firm can help people in McKinney, Collin County, other areas around Dallas, and across all of North Texas who are facing DWI charges. Whether a person is facing first-time charges or needs to defend against a felony conviction, we can provide guidance on the best steps to take to resolve their case successfully.

DWI Involving Alcohol, Marijuana, or Other Drugs

DWI charges may address impairment caused by alcohol, marijuana, prescription medications, illegal narcotics, or any combination of substances. Charges involving alcohol will often be based on allegations that a driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) that exceeded the legal limit of .08 percent. Charges involving drugs may be based on evidence of impairment, including evaluations by drug recognition experts. Our lawyers can provide legal representation for drivers who have been accused of drunk driving, and we can address the unique issues that may arise in marijuana DWI or drug DWI cases.

First, Second, and Third DWI Charges

People in Texas who have been arrested for first-time DWI will usually face Class B misdemeanor charges. While misdemeanor offenses may not seem serious, they can lead to penalties that may include weeks or months of jail time and thousands of dollars in fines. Penalties will increase for a second DWI conviction, since people in these situations will usually face Class A misdemeanor charges. A third DWI charge is a third-degree felony, with penalties that may include multiple years in prison and ongoing collateral consequences.

Need Help? Get in Contact

Dedicated, Persistent, Ready to Stand By You

Let's Get You Back on Track

When DWI Charges May Be Elevated to Felonies

Certain circumstances may lead to felony DWI charges, even if it is a person's first offense. DWI with a child passenger is a state jail felony offense, and a person may be charged with this offense if a child below the age of 15 was in their vehicle when they were allegedly driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Causing a serious bodily injury to another person due to impaired driving can lead to charges of intoxication assault. A death that occurred because of intoxicated driving can lead to charges of intoxication manslaughter, which are even more serious.

Underage DUI and Commercial Driver DWI

Drivers who are under the age of 21 may be arrested for intoxicated driving based on allegations that they had any intoxicating substances in their system while they were operating a vehicle. Underage DUI charges can lead to license suspension, community service, and other penalties. Criminal DWI charges may apply if a minor allegedly drove while over the legal BAC limit that applies to adults.

Commercial drivers may face unique concerns in DWI cases. The legal BAC limit for commercial drivers is .04 percent, which is half the limit for other types of drivers. A commercial driver who faces DWI charges may lose their commercial driver's license, even if an offense occurred in a non-commercial vehicle. Defending against DWI charges can be important to help a commercial driver prevent penalties that could affect their career.

Breath Tests and Blood Tests in DWI Cases

Chemical testing is an important factor in most DWI cases. Breath or blood tests performed after DWI arrests may indicate that a person was intoxicated, and a test refusal will result in an automatic license suspension. There may be options for challenging this evidence. Breath testing instruments need to be properly calibrated, and officers must be certified in their operation. Blood tests will depend on a reliable chain of custody of blood samples between when they are drawn and when they are tested in a lab. Our lawyers know how to challenge evidence and argue that it does not conclusively prove that a person was intoxicated while driving.

Legal Help for People Facing DWI Charges

Our attorneys have a comprehensive understanding of the laws that affect DWI cases, and we have extensive experience representing clients in these cases. We will closely review the circumstances of a traffic stop and the procedures followed during and after an arrest. We can look at whether an officer had a valid reason to stop a driver, whether field sobriety testing followed standardized procedures, or whether there may be other reasons to challenge an arrest. We will determine whether breath or blood test evidence can be challenged, and we will work to help clients defend against DWI convictions.

Our team can also help clients protect their driving privileges by addressing automatic driver's license suspensions that may go into effect after DWI arrests. We can request ALR hearings within the required deadlines, and we can provide representation to help clients avoid a license suspension whenever possible. As we address DWI charges, we will determine the best defense strategies, and we will advocate for solutions that will help clients minimize the penalties that may affect their lives.

Contact Our McKinney, Texas DWI Attorneys

When responding to DWI charges, having a skilled attorney on your side can make all the difference in your case. At Texas Defense Firm, we will stand by your side as you address these charges, and we will help you take the right steps to resolve your case successfully and move forward with your life. Contact our McKinney DWI defense lawyers at 972-369-0577 to schedule your free consultation.