DUI Lawyer in Houston TX

Cheap Houston Texas DUI Lawyer?

Reader’s Question:

My sister was charged with DUI here in Houston, Texas. She is not decided whether or not she will hire a DUI lawyer. If she decides to do so, what are the things that she should be careful about? She does not have much money so she will need a rather cheap dui lawyer

Tim

Houston, TX

Since your sister was charged with DUI in Houston, Texas, it would be of big help for her to defend her DUI case if she will hire the services of a DUI lawyer. But in doing so, there are certain things that she should always remember in thoroughly choosing a DUI lawyer. This also involves some things that she should be careful about when dealing with lawyers.

One of the things that your sister should be careful about is the “sweet-talker” because this type of lawyer would entice her to believe on the good results with regard to her DUI case. More often, these lawyers may only be after the retainer’s fee or the acceptance fee your sister would give them. One other thing that your sister should be careful about is the over-extended lawyer. This type of lawyer handles too many DUI cases so he/she may not have the time to effectively handle your sister’s case. The fee that the lawyers quote their client is also something that your sister should take note of. Keep in mind that those who charge too high or too low may have other motives that you could suspect.

Been Caught Drunk Driving in Houston Texas?

Reader’s Question:

Luckily for me, I have never been caught drunk driving here in Houston, Texas. I know many people who have been charged with DUI. I hope the same thing will not happen to me because I know it would cost me a lot of time, money and effort. But if ever, what will the police officer ask me if I will be stopped for DUI suspicion?

Dennis

Houston, TX

When you are caught by a police officer for a DUI suspicion, a chain reaction of legal steps ensues. Drunk driving in Houston, Texas is a serious offense. The state of Texas requires blood alcohol content (BAC) of drivers to be .08% or less. Texas also has harsher punishments for drivers with extremely high BAC levels over .15 percent.

Generally, if a police officer stops you for DUI suspicion, you will be asked to perform field sobriety tests (FST) or an actual sobriety test to measure your level of intoxication. There are several testing options exist including breath, urine and blood tests. The state of Texas has implied consent law about sobriety tests. That means that if you get behind a wheel, are implying consent to take an alcohol test on the spot if requested. You, as a driver, usually have choice of tests. Breath testing is easier to challenge for accuracy than blood tests but breathalyzers do not scan for the presence of other drugs. If you refuse the test or have a BAC level over the limit, the police officer will probably take you into custody at the local police station. It is likely someone will have to pick you up or you will have to sleep overnight at the station to sober up, depending on your previous charges.

At this point, you will need an assistance of a qualified DUI lawyer in Houston, Texas to make sure that you know all the available options on your DUI case if ever you will be charged with one in the future.

Hiring a Houston TX DUI Attorney

Reader’s Question:

I have a DUI charge here in Houston, Texas and I am having a hard time looking for a qualified DUI attorney. Please help me. What am I going to look for when hiring a DUI attorney to defend my case?

Oliver

Houston, TX

It can be a big mistake for some people arrested for DUI to call the first Houston attorney they hear or know personally. DUI is not a simple legal issue although it is very common. You need to take the defense of your DUI case very seriously.

Only an experienced Houston, Texas DUI lawyer can advise you on ways your case may be defensible. Make sure that the lawyer that you will hire has already gone to trial on a Houston DUI case, has studied the Texas DUI law and understands the procedures fully, knows the ways to defend a DUI case and willing to go to trial if necessary.

Should You Hire a Houston DWI Attorney?

Reader’s Question:

When should I employ a qualified Houston Texas DWI attorney?

Joan

Houston, TX

 

Joan if you are thinking of employing a qualified Houston Texas attorney, you should do that as soon as possible. In Houston Texas, you will only have fifteen calendar days to get in touch with the Texas Department of Public Safety to plan your Administrative Licensure Revocation hearing to rescue your driver’s license. If you fail to notice the time limit, you will be deprived of your rights and your license will be suspended. The moment you appeal to your right to an attorney, the police are obligated to stop any gathering of facts on the basis of your early statements until your attorney is at your side. The more rapidly you have an attorney, the earlier your forceful argument will set in motion. I will recommend that you call upon your right to a Texas attorney as soon as you were stopped, if it is obvious that you may be accused with Driving While under the Influence.Moreover, there are many grounds why you should hire an attorney because they will give successful representation when you have been charged with Driving While Intoxicated. Clearly, there are thousands of dollars in fines and surcharges which must be paid upon sentenced.

Outside these cost, there are many guaranteed penalty which include loss of commercial driver’s license privileges, loss of vanity plates and inability to enter certain foreign countries. You can plead guilty to first offenses without be on familiar terms that your next violations require penalties which are much more severe. DWI convictions can also effect probable employment even where driving may not be appropriate to it.

Teen Drunk Driving in Houston Get Jail Time?

Reader’s Question:

I’m so concerned about my daughter because she likes to party a lot and often times drives her way home drunk. My daughter is 17 years old. My husband has once been charged with DWI here in Houston Texas and served more than three months of jail time. What are the consequences that my teen daughter might be facing if she will be caught drunk and driving?

Eileen

Houston, TX

Thanks for asking, Eileen

The Texas law states that a minor (under age 21) commits an offense if he or she operates a motor vehicle in a public place while having any detectable amount of alcohol in the minor’s system.

If your teenage daughter will be charged with DWI in Houston, since she is under 18 years old, the court will require you, as a parent, to be present with your daughter at every court appearance. The parent can be forced to attend by the court. If a minor will be convicted with DWI in Texas, penalties include fine of $500-$2,000, jail time up to 180 days and community service for 20-40 hours.

I suggest you talk to her as soon as possible to make her aware of the consequences she might be facing if she will be charged with DWI.

DWI Attorneys in Houston Texas

After you have settled things with your DWI attorney in Houston TX and know who will be representing you, you have to take into mind what the next steps are that you will have to take if you want to see your ultimate goal reached and your case succeed. If you want to meet those goals, then you will have to keep yourself in the circle of the process, and you will also have to stay knowledgeable and realistic.

In your next meeting with your DWI attorney in Houston TX, which should be soon, you should discuss what exactly the two of you hope to accomplish in court. Are you looking to be allowed certain restricted abilities to drive? Do you want six months in jail (or none) instead of a year? Do you want to get rid of all punishment? The last option might be the favorite for many, but is rarely possible. Discussing these things with your lawyer allow you to keep in touch with reality, and know when this will all be over–another important goal to define.

You should be in communication with your lawyer and with the people at the courthouse or the police department responsible for your case, so that you have every bit of information which might help or hurt you and can put it in the hands of your lawyer. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and always expect an answer.

Hiring a Houston DWI Lawyer

So, you’ve put off really thinking about the situation until the day you’re supposed to be hiring a Houston DWI lawyer. Don’t be afraid. I have some questions you can ask which should guide you through your consultation. They are not the limit on questions you need to be asking, but provide a firm basis to your final decision.

  • Who am I going to be represented by in a court of law? Essential to your decision is the experience, pricing, and compatibility of the lawyer you will be working with, so that is the person you need to be meeting with. If the person you ARE meeting with says you will be referred to another lawyer, then you need to request a consultation with that lawyer. If that isn’t possible, bye bye.
  • Be demanding about experience. You need details. Ask for the number of years your lawyer has been practicing law, and when they started on DUI cases. Do they defend DUIs full time; if so, for how long; if not, what percent of their defense is on DUI?
  • Do the two of you come together on money things? Are they charging within the realm of what you would consider reasonable? Do they have options for payment plans or deferred payments? Get it on paper!

Hiring a Houston DUI Attorney

As mentioned before, there are times when you always need an attorney, while in other times it’s just very likely that you need an attorney. In this cases, there is still sometimes the remote possibility that you will be able to come decently out of your case without a Houston DUI attorney, but it will be an extremely hard fight which you will probably lose, and it would be better to be safe and hire a lawyer. Below I have listed a few of the reasons you may find yourself in this situation, so that you can consult a lawyer and decide which way to go.

You are probably going to need to hire a Houston DUI attorney if…

  • you already have a previous DUI conviction on your record and are up for your second time. With a second ticket, you will see longer jail sentences, more fines, and less leeway and willingness to forgive, so you will have to fight hard for reductions.
  • you were driving under extreme intoxication. Drunk isn’t drunk when it comes to DUIs, and you can get in trouble for being more drunk than the next guy. Having an intoxication level twice the limit can garner more penalties.
  • you were driving with a child in the car with you. If you had someone under the age of 18 with you, you will also face more penalties.

Houston Texas DUI Attorney Consultation

At your consultation with your Houston Texas DUI attorney, your attorney and you will decide where to place the next step forward. However, in order to do this, you will need to know where you stand at the moment. Get as much information as you can about your case so that the two of you can look at it. Some of the most important information is the evidence, because it will make or break you.

  • Verbal.
    • when pulled over by a police officer, you speak in a slurred voice and mix your words up
    • when asked how much alcohol you have had, you answer, whether truthfully or not, that you have had a large amount
  • Sight.
    • the police officer spots you weaving in and out of other people’s lanes
    • you drive in some other unusual/dangerous way
    • when asked to walk in a straight line, you can’t
    • you have bloodshot eyes
  • Tests.
    • when given a test to determine your BAC, you have a high result

Do I Really Need a Houston DUI Lawyer

Dealing with a DUI is stressful, so the most important thing for you to do is elax and stop worrying so that you can figure out what the next step is for you to take. After you have arranged transportation and the like after having your driver’s license suspended, that next step will probably be hiring a Houston DUI lawyer to help you with your case. DUI cases are not quite as open and shut as other traffic offenses, and can often lead to criminal convictions. In a few of the following ways, a Houston DUI lawyer can help you:

  • A Houston DUI lawyer knows DUI law and, knowing that, has a better position to help you come to an understanding of it. If you’re on your own, you could find yourself learning too much of the wrong thing, but a lawyer can introduce you to specific parts of the law which apply to you and thus make you see what you’re facing so that you can prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
  • A lawyer can handle the small stuff which is easy to forget during the stress and can mess your case up if you do forget. Paperwork, scheduling, phone calls, and so on.
  • A lawyer is able to be your representation in trial court and defend your case in a way that can help you get less consequences.