Austin DWI Lawyers

The Austin criminal defense firm of Minton, Burton, Bassett & Collins, P.C. understands that being arrested for driving while intoxicated, or DWI, can be a very difficult time in your life. DWI, which is often referred to as driving under the influence, or DUI, is a serious criminal offense in Texas. An individual who is convicted of DWI faces a term of imprisonment, fines, a driver’s license suspension and higher insurance premiums.

If you have recently been charged with driving while intoxicated in Texas, don’t put your future or your freedom in jeopardy. Instead, put them in the hands of the Board Certified Criminal Law Specialists at Minton, Burton, Bassett & Collins, P.C.

Contact us today by calling (512) 476-4873, email [email protected], or fill out our online contact form to make an appointment for a confidential consultation. Our Austin DWI defense lawyers represent clients in Hays, Travis, Williamson, Bastrop, Comal, Burnet and Caldwell counties.

Texas Driving While Intoxicated Laws

Texas DWI laws and their corresponding penalties are complicated and ever-changing. The potential penalties for a driving while intoxicated or drunk driving conviction will depend on a number of factors. Each successive conviction, for example, carries with it harsher potential penalties.

Mandatory jail time, longer license suspension, higher fines and the imposition of an ignition interlock device are all penalties that a defendant faces when being charged with a second and subsequent DWI. Even a first-time Texas DWI can carry more serious penalties when the crime is aggravated by the defendant’s age, the presence of a minor in the vehicle or when the crime resulted in an accident.

Texas Laws Relating to DWI Stops and Arrests

A law enforcement officer must have a legal reason to stop your vehicle. Some common reasons why a stop may be effectuated include erratic driving, malfunctioning equipment and the reasonable belief that a law has been violated. Although this may appear to give Texas law enforcement a wide berth, our experienced Austin criminal defense attorneys could be able to challenge the stop if it appears that the stop was not legal. If the stop itself was not legal, it could have a significant effect on the outcome of your case. The only way to know if your rights were violated is to consult with an experienced DWI attorney as soon as possible.

Once a motorist has been stopped, and the law enforcement officer suspects that the driver was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the law allows the officer to perform a variety of tests to determine if his or her suspicions are correct. Collectively known as the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, each one gives an indication as to the sobriety of the suspect. These tests must be performed correctly or they are not admissible in a court of law. Likewise, if a breath test such as the Intoxilyzer 5000 is utilized, it too must be administered properly or is open to a challenge by your defense attorney.

The Austin DUI defense attorneys at Minton, Burton, Bassett & Collins, P.C., have over four decades of experience investigating, evaluating and challenging both the initial stop and the subsequent tests performed when a driver is suspected of driving while intoxicated.

Contact Our Austin DWI Defense Lawyers Today

An arrest for DWI/DUI doesn’t have to ruin your future, but you must take action now to defend your rights. When it comes to DUI and DWI cases, time is of the essence. Talking with an attorney as soon as possible after you have been charged is the only way to ensure that you have the best defense and the most legal options.