League City DWI Attorney

Quality DWI Defense in League City, Texas

A DWI is one of the most common crimes in League City. That doesn’t make an arrest for DWI any less shocking for the person in handcuffs. Texas takes DWI very seriously, and stiff penalties await anyone convicted. Even an arrest for DWI can result in an administrative suspension of your license which will make going on with life very difficult.

If you were picked up for DWI or any alcohol-related driving offense, contact us now. The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates has defended countless men and women on drunk driving charges.

Defining DWI in Texas

Texas Penal Code Section 49.04 is the DWI statute. It states that you are guilty of DWI if you operate a motor vehicle in public while intoxicated. The law also defines intoxicated as having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of at least 0.08 or lacking the normal use of your physical or mental faculties. As you can see, you don’t have to blow a certain number on a breathalyzer. If you can’t control a vehicle as you normally would because of alcohol, you are guilty of DWI.

A DWI offense can also stem from drug use, even prescription or over-the-counter medications. If they impair your faculties, you can face criminal charges.

Aggravated DWI Cases in League City

A DWI with no injury or accident is probably the standard type of drunk driving case that we handle. But we also have deep experience with certain special or aggravated DWI cases, such as:

DWI with a Commercial License

• Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID)
• DWI With a Child in Car
• Intoxication Assault
• Intoxication Manslaughter
• Third DWI Offense
• Underage Drinking and Driving (DUI)

These cases present unique challenges. For example, the maximum BAC for those with a commercial driver’s license is much lower (.04). You could face a loss of your CDL and other penalties for as little as one alcoholic drink.

DWI Penalties in League City

The Lone Star state does not consider DWI to be a minor crime. Instead, you could face time in jail and steep fines, even as a first-time offender.

Generally, a first offense can net you $2,000 in fines along with other surcharges. You can also face up to 180 days in jail, which can obviously impact your ability to keep your job or continue your education. If you had a high BAC, you are looking at a year in jail.

A second or third DWI also carries increased penalties. Indeed, a third conviction for DWI could result in 10 years in prison as a felon.

Any DWI that endangers a person also calls for higher penalties. For example, you might have had a child under 15 in the vehicle with you. Or you were involved in an accident where someone was hurt or even killed. You can expect Texas to throw the book at you in these cases.

We Can Fight to Keep Your License

Many people are shocked to find out they can lose their driver’s license even for an arrest. You do not have to be convicted. Instead, the arresting officer will take your license and issue a temporary one that’s good for a short period of time. Fortunately, you can request a hearing as part of the Administrative License Revocation (ALR) process.

Tad Nelson can represent you at the ALR hearing. This is separate from the criminal charges, but vital if you want to keep driving. We need to show your arrest wasn’t valid, perhaps because the officer lacked probable cause to stop you.

Can You Defend against a DWI?

Yes. Tad Nelson has learned over the years that the best defense to bring will depend on the facts of your case. What worked for your cousin or neighbor’s DWI might not be helpful for you.

We have raised many of the following defenses over the years:

• Lack of reasonable suspicion to stop you. An officer can’t pull you over because he feels like it. If he doesn’t have clear, articulable facts to support the stop, we can often get the case dismissed.
• Defective breathalyzer test. Breathalyzers play a big role in many cases. Of course, an officer needs proper training on how to use one, and this training is sometimes lacking.
• Blood draw errors. For example, your blood sample might be contaminated, or there was a mix-up on the sample tested.
• Reasonable doubt. If you didn’t give a sample, your case might hinge on subjective things like your performance on field sobriety tests. We can often access dashboard footage and analyze whether it shows you were intoxicated.

Hiring the Right League City DWI Attorney

Many lawyers are hanging around the courthouse offering their services. How do you know which one to hire?

At Tad Nelson, we recommend that you schedule a free consultation. This meeting is a great time to ask any questions on your mind and express your concerns. A good DWI lawyer in League City should listen compassionately but also be honest with you. Some cases are difficult to defend. You want an attorney to be realistic about the penalties you are facing.

You should also hire someone with the experience in DWI law. Inexperienced lawyers often think you have no chance to keep your license or even beat the charges. We know better. Although we can’t win every case, we can make the prosecutor work for a conviction. Occasionally, they might make a sweet plea deal to get the case over with.

Your DWI attorney is your advocate but also your counselor. We can describe all the ways a DWI conviction will impact your life, from increased insurance costs to other surcharges. If this is your second or a subsequent offense, you need someone to point out how to get your life on track.

League City DWI Defense

The days following an arrest are a critical moment in every DWI case. The choices you make can have a big impact on whether you avoid jail, keep your license, and move on successfully with your life. Call our firm today to schedule a free consultation.