Being arrested for drunk driving can be an embarrassing and overwhelming event. Even though thousands are given out in Texas every year, you may feel alone, confused, and unsure about how to proceed. These feelings can be made worse by the myths regarding DWIs that many people believe.
The truth is that you are not alone and you do have the power to pursue a favorable outcome for yourself. The right DWI lawyer can help. Here are just a few of the common misconceptions people hold about DWIs, debunked, so you can make smart and informed decisions about dealing with your DWI arrest.
YOU MUST PLEAD GUILTY TO A DRUNK DRIVING CHARGE.
People who are arrested for drunk driving and who face drunk driving charges often feel a great deal of pressure to plead guilty. This pressure can feel especially strong if you took a breathalyzer or field sobriety test. Hearing that the arresting officer could smell alcohol on your breath or that the officer otherwise thinks that you were intoxicated can also make fighting a drunk driving charge feel impossible.
The truth, however, is that you always have a choice when it comes to a drunk driving charge. You can always hire an experienced criminal defense attorney to help you navigate the process and pursue a favorable outcome.
The right DWI lawyer can help you to plead down your DWI, explore your options, and pursue a more favorable outcome than a guilty plea and the heavy penalties that often accompany a conviction. The key is to hire someone experienced in DWIs as quickly as you can after your arrest so that you can have an advocate on your side.
TAKING A BREATH OR BLOOD TEST AUTOMATICALLY MAKES YOU GUILTY OF A DWI.
Some people facing drunk driving charges also believe that taking a breath or blood test automatically makes them guilty of a DWI. Feeling as if the case is over and they have already been convicted, they may submit to whatever the courts decide, including heavy penalties.
The truth, however, is that taking a breath or blood test (or any other field sobriety test) is not the same thing as being convicted in a court of law. Instead, regardless of whether you took any tests, and regardless of how you performed on them, you still have the opportunity to hire a criminal defense attorney who can fight on your side for a fair solution.
While the help of a criminal defense attorney can be invaluable in dealing with a DWI, time is often important. For example, in Texas, you only have 15 days to prevent the suspension of your license for drunk driving. Getting professional support immediately can help you to make your case more promptly and more strongly, regardless of whether or not you took breath or blood tests.
YOU DON’T NEED A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY WHEN FACING DRUNK DRIVING CHARGES.
People who have been arrested for drunk driving often feel as if they must plead guilty, they often also feel as if they have no need of a criminal defense attorney. As a result, many people choose to plead guilty to a DWI without any advocate or support on their side.
And that often means that they end up facing the heaviest potential consequences of their guilty plea. In Texas, this can translate into the loss of a license, heavy fees, or even felony charges and jail time.
The truth, however, is that calling a criminal defense attorney should be one of the first things you do when you are arrested for drunk driving. There is an art to defending DWI cases, and the right attorney can skillfully and successfully help you to navigate the process. Ways your attorney can help are as follows:
- Pleading down charges
- Exploring your legal options
- Helping you obtain an occupational license so you can get to work after your license has been suspended
- Defending you in court
- And more
THE FIRST DWI CONVICTION IS NOT SERIOUS.
Sometimes, people fail to call a criminal defense attorney when they are arrested for drunk driving, because the DWI is their first offense. They mistakenly believe that a first offense, because it does not often include jail time, is not an issue that requires the support of a DWI lawyer.
The truth, however, is that even one DWI conviction can lead to serious consequences. For example, the first conviction can lead to the loss of your license, and large licensing fees later on. Perhaps more importantly, however, a second DWI conviction can lead to felony charges and jail time, even if your first conviction was many years ago.
That means that dealing with a first-time offense can be very important both in the present and for your future self. And that is why the best course of action is often to hire a criminal defense attorney to help you deal with any type of drunk driving charge.
THE PENALTIES FOR A DWI CONVICTION ARE INEVITABLE.
Finally, many people choose not to call a criminal defense attorney when they are arrested for drunk driving, because they believe that the penalties for a DWI conviction are inevitable. For example, they might believe that they must lose their license, or serve jail time, or pay heavy fines.
The truth, however, is that the impacts of a drunk driving charge often depend upon how you are charged and the outcome of your case. A criminal defense attorney, therefore, can serve a vital role in bringing about a positive outcome by helping you to fight for a fair outcome for you. The key is to find a lawyer who is experienced and willing to fight on your behalf.
If you have been arrested for drunk driving, the criminal defense attorney at the Law Offices of David M. White can help. We are experienced, professional, and committed to fighting for you. We can help you to explore your options and achieve a solution that is favorable and fair to you.
Don’t give in to the myth that you must plead guilty, that blood or breath tests automatically make you guilty, that you do not need a criminal defense attorney, that the first DWI conviction is not serious, or that the penalties are inevitable. Call a DWI lawyer and pursue the best resolution possible for your situation.
David M. White
Attorney
David M. White is an attorney with offices in Abilene and San Angelo, Texas. His practice is focused on Personal Injury cases and Criminal Defense. Mr. White attended Texas Tech University where he earned a B.B.A. in Finance in Honors Studies in 2002, graduating magna cum laude. He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Texas Tech University School of Law in 2006.
If you, a friend, or family member need legal advice, please feel free to contact our firm for a free consultation with David White, a Personal Injury attorney in Abilene, Texas.
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