Talk With a Lawyer Now
DWI, or Driving While Intoxicated, and DUI, or driving under the influence, are two very common crimes that most people are familiar with. If you have been charged with either a DWI or a DUI, you must get a good lawyer on your team to help you fight the charges. A DWI charge is a serious matter that requires specialized legal representation from an experienced DWI lawyer with proven DWI defense expertise.
Fighting the charges is crucial, and our firm brings extensive experience and a long history of experience defending clients in DWI cases. As a San Antonio DWI lawyer and DWI attorney, we have local expertise and a deep understanding of Texas laws to provide the best possible defense.
Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case. We also offer flexible payment plans to make quality legal representation accessible.
Anyone over the age of 21 that is caught operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content of .08 or higher can be charged with a DWI. This blood-alcohol content is also referred to as blood alcohol concentration (BAC), and the legal limit in Texas is 0.08%. Texas DWI laws define this legal limit and outline the penalties for exceeding it, including fines, jail time, and license suspension. For a first DWI offense, the charge is typically classified as a Class B misdemeanor and could result in up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. You could also face penalties such as license suspension, the risk of automatic suspension of your driver’s license, and other consequences. The administrative license revocation process can lead to an automatic suspension of your driver’s license unless you request an ALR hearing within 15 days of your arrest to challenge the suspension. Additionally, having an open alcohol container in your vehicle can result in further charges and increase the severity of legal consequences. These are serious repercussions. That’s why it is so essential to hire a knowledgeable San Antonio defense attorney to fight the charges, even if it is your first DWI offense. If it is not your first offense, or if there are aggravating factors, you could receive much harsher punishments, and the DWI offense could be charged as a felony.
A DUI, on the other hand, is an age-specific charge. If you are under the age of 21, the legal drinking age, and found with any alcohol at all in your system, you can be charged with a DUI. If your blood alcohol content is over .08, you can additionally be charged with a DWI. Operating a motor vehicle under the influence is illegal regardless of age.
Because you can only be given a DUI if under the age of 21, the punishments are different. DUIs carry a fine of up to $500, a 60-day suspension of your driver’s license, community service, and a required alcohol awareness class. If you or your child has been charged with a DUI, you will want to hire a good lawyer. Because this is a charge that is only given to young people, parents are often very concerned with helping their children navigate the charges and get their lives back on track. Your lawyer at Zarka Law Firm can help.
DWIs and DUIs lead to a variety of consequences that can range from fines to jail time, or even losing your driver’s license. You may also have increased insurance premiums for your vehicle or have to report the charge on future housing or employment applications. A DWI conviction can result in a permanent record and other consequences, including a conviction that may impact your future employment, licensing, and legal standing. Just one night of drunk driving or drinking too much can result in major consequences for the rest of your life. That’s why it is so important to seek legal help from an expert that can help you fight the charges and lessen the sentence.
The team at Zarka Law Firm has extensive experience defending clients in DWI cases and DWI arrests throughout San Antonio, the surrounding counties, and South Texas. As a San Antonio DWI attorney and DWI lawyer, our law office leverages a deep understanding of DWI in San Antonio and the unique legal landscape of South Texas. After we get to know you and your unique situation, we work quickly to help you dismiss or reduce the charges with whatever strong defense works best for you. Sometimes we can seek dismissal due to law enforcement not having probable cause to pull you over, which is a critical defense in many DWI cases. Other times, there is a lack of evidence due to an inaccurate or incorrectly administered field sobriety test, breath test, blood test, or errors in blood testing and blood test results. We also consider whether a medical condition may have affected the test results or evidence. Our law office thoroughly reviews the state’s evidence, and by challenging field sobriety tests, blood test results, and breath test procedures, we build a strong defense that can lead to a not guilty verdict, a favorable outcome, or even having your DWI dismissed. In fact, we have handled cases where the jury found in favor of our client.
If you have been arrested and charged with a DWI case or DWI arrest, you only have a limited amount of time to take action to protect your driving privileges. Texas law limits your window to fifteen days, which means you should give us a call as soon as possible. Our law office specializes in defending people against DWI arrests, DWI cases, and related charges such as intoxication assault, which can carry severe penalties including ignition interlock device requirements. We understand the impact a DWI conviction or other convictions can have on your record, career, and future, and we work diligently to avoid these outcomes. As a former prosecutor, our lead attorney brings insider knowledge and a deep understanding of the legal process to every case. While we fight for you, we keep you regularly informed so that you can focus on maintaining your life. We are committed to balancing the defense of our clients with the importance of public safety in our community. If you’ve been arrested and charged with a DWI in the San Antonio area, surrounding counties, or anywhere in South Texas, we are ready to help. Give us a call today.
