Friday, March 11, 2011

Sentencing for a Texas DWI

If convicted of a Texas DWI, for your first offense you are going to do at least the mandatory three days in jail. This may be commuted if your Plano DWI lawyer helped you get granted probation. Fortunately, supervision is a common option in misdemeanor drunk driving cases.

Your Plano Criminal lawyer will help you understand the laws that apply to your specific situation. The judge has the choice of giving you community service as part of a plea deal, or the jury may sentence you to community service when the case goes to trial. The jury also has the option of not suspending your driver’s license.

But probation on DWI charges can come with additional stipulations, including these common three:

1. Rehab. You will be required to get an evaluation from a state-approved alcohol counselor to decide whether you have an addiction.

If they decide you do, you may then be required to go through rehab.

2. DWI education program – You will be required to attend an approved course on alcohol and drunk driving within 180 days of receiving probation. If you don’t take the course, your license will be revoked, and you won’t be able to get it back until you complete the program. Your Plano criminal lawyer will tell you that this is a great alternative to jail.

3. Ignition interlock device – If your blood-alcohol was .15 or more, you will be required to put a device on your vehicle that will test your breath each time you try to start the vehicle. It effectively prevents the car from starting if it detects alcohol.

When having to go through DWI cases, make sure you are using a Plano DWI lawyer that is experienced in similar cases, and who has worked with people like yourself.
AMS2000 Ignition Interlock Device manufactured...Image via Wikipedia
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