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get direction Intoxicated driving offenses are some of the most common in Austin. While they are prevalent, that does not mean you are out of legal options. If you are charged with felony DWI, you need legal assistance to defend yourself. A conviction often leads to severe consequences like license suspension, fines, and jail time.
Speak to the felony DWI lawyer in Austin from the Law Office of David D. White, PLLC: Austin Criminal Lawyer. We are ready to support your case. Give us a call at 512-369-3737 or contact us here. We are open 24/7.
If you face Felony DWI charges in Austin, Texas, you need the strongest possible defense. At the Law Office of David D. White, PLLC: Austin Criminal Lawyer, we understand the severe consequences of a conviction. Here’s why our clients trust us to represent their Felony DWI cases in Travis County:
DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) is a criminal offense in Texas involving operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs. Felony DWI applies to specific cases, such as a third or subsequent DWI offense, intoxication assault (causing serious bodily injury), or intoxication manslaughter (causing death). Unlike some states that use ‘DUI’ interchangeably, Texas only applies ‘DUI’ to minors under 21 with any detectable alcohol in their system.
In Texas, a person is considered legally intoxicated if their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08% or higher. However, even if a driver’s BAC is below this limit, they can still be charged with DWI if their physical or mental faculties are impaired due to alcohol or drugs. Texas has a zero-tolerance policy for DWI involving minors (under 21 years old), where any detectable amount of alcohol can lead to charges.
You can be facing several charges for felony DWI. They will each have varying penalties discussed later. Some felony offenses you can be facing include:
If you are intoxicated while operating a motor vehicle and injure someone else, you can be charged with this third-degree felony. In some instances, the charges can be increased to a second-degree felony. Those cases often involve firefighters, police officers, or emergency medical staff.
If you are intoxicated and operating a motor vehicle causing the death of another person, you can be charged with a felony for intoxication manslaughter. It is typically a second-degree felony. When it involves a firefighter, police officer, or emergency medical personnel, it can be increased to a first-degree felony.
A third DWI conviction is automatically classified as a third-degree felony, regardless of whether there was an accident or injury. If you have a prior intoxication manslaughter conviction, a subsequent DWI can also be treated as a felony with enhanced penalties. Repeat offenders face mandatory jail time, longer license suspensions, and significantly higher fines.
You do not want these charges to stay on your record and affect your life. An underage DWI is a Class C misdemeanor with fines upwards of $500. It also requires attending an alcohol awareness class and community service. To fight back, speak to a felony DWI attorney in Austin.
For a Felony DWI arrest, law enforcement must first have reasonable suspicion to conduct a traffic stop, such as observing a traffic violation or erratic driving behavior. Once stopped, the officer must establish probable cause before making an arrest. This can be based on failed sobriety tests, slurred speech, the smell of alcohol, or other observed signs of impairment. Without proper probable cause, an arrest may be challenged in court.
Often officers will say they smelled alcohol to justify an investigation. When they say this, they are usually looking for probable cause. When they have that, they can make an arrest. They will usually establish probable cause by asking you questions, conducting field sobriety tests, and through visual observations. These tests can be flawed. When speaking to the officer, refrain from explaining how much you drank. Stay quiet until you talk to an Austin felony DWI attorney.
The purpose of field sobriety tests is to determine if you are intoxicated. If the officer can prove this, then they can make an arrest and charge you. Your BAC must be .08 or higher for these charges. DWIs include illegal drugs, prescription medications, or a combination of drugs and alcohol. Some of the most common tests include:
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Most DWI offenses are misdemeanors, but some can automatically be deemed felonies. The penalties are steeper for felonies. You do not want your life derailed because of a misunderstanding or mistake. Among the penalties that you can face for felony DWIs are the following:
These are examples of the court penalties you can face. However, there are other consequences you may face. To know your possible penalties, speak to our Austin felony DWI attorney today.
Beyond court fines, a Felony DWI in Texas triggers significant administrative penalties, including:
You may also suffer employment issues like time off or job loss. You can experience a substantial financial burden if you are charged or convicted of a felony DWI in Texas. However, you have the right to fight back and defend yourself. It is best if you work with an Austin felony DWI attorney. You will want to avoid penalties and the long-term impacts of a criminal conviction.
“When you hire me, you get me. Not my admin, not my associates. I’ll meet, talk, text, and work with you directly to get you the best possible outcome in your case.”
David D. White
Austin Criminal Defense Lawyer
When you work with a criminal defense lawyer in Austin, you have a higher chance of having your charges reduced or dismissed. At the Law Office of David D. White, PLLC: Austin Criminal Lawyer, we will work to prevent your life from derailing from a criminal conviction.
While our goal is to challenge the prosecution’s case and seek a dismissal, Texas law makes it difficult to reduce Felony DWI charges to lesser offenses. However, we can explore alternative sentencing options, negotiate probation instead of prison, or advocate for reduced penalties where possible. A strong defense strategy can make a critical difference in the outcome of your case. Contact our Austin felony DWI attorney for guidance on your circumstances.
The founder of the Law Office of David D. White, PLLC: Austin Criminal Lawyer, has been defending the rights of criminal defendants in Austin, Texas since 2008. We are a client-centered law firm where we fight to preserve the presumption of innocence on behalf of our clients in every criminal case we take. We believe that everyone is entitled to a fair trial and we strive to provide our clients with the best possible defense to ensure that this is true.
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At the Law Office of David D. White, PLLC: Austin Criminal Lawyer, our experienced attorneys are committed to defending clients facing serious criminal charges and providing expert legal assistance for Felony DWI cases in the Travis County area. Our firm is conveniently located near you at 608 W 12th St Ste B, Austin, TX 78701, United States. Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 30.27593924306679, -97.74695361060651.
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We Cannot Thank David Enough I dealt with David around 2011 for a DWI in Austin. He was really effective with my case at hand and guided me through the whole process with ease and Peace of mind. Thank you again.
Strongly Recommend David White I called David last August after my daughter got a minor in possession while away in college. My wife & I were terrified that this mistake might cost our daughter dearly. Luckily for us, we found David to take care of this for us. He walked us through the process during the initial free consultation. Several months later the case was dismissed and ultimately expunged. We cannot thank David enough for all his help...
Pulled off a Miracle First, let me start with the staff. They are absolutely the most courteous and professional staff I have dealt with over the last few years. They are always punctual with reminders about court dates and times as well as relaying any information you have for David (he is an attorney and is often in court in the mornings). As far as David is concerned he is lights out as far as an attorney is concerned. He knows the law as it pe...
Amazing! David White was the first phone call I made when facing charges for my first time. I called his office on a Sunday, during a holiday weekend (July 3rd) and received a call back that immediately put me a little bit more at ease. After my first meeting with him, I felt that he was as forthcoming, honest, and realistic as an attorney could be. He thoroughly prepared me for everything you can imagine and was direct and concise while explainin...
Great professional lawyer Mr White was absolutely amazing! Mr White was able to get my DWI dismissed, save my driving record, reputation and career. Made the process easy and absolutely stress free. Could not have asked for a better lawyer! Would give 10 stars if I could!
Great Lawyer I liked the fact that he was fair, understanding and very easy to work with. Every time l talked to David, he made me feel at ease and he explained everything clearly. The terms of payments were fair and David ensured that l was able to pay my bills and not starve while paying for his services.
Oustanding Counsel David did a great job in defending me and jumping through all the legal hurdles. Here in Texas the legal system makes you repeatedly show up for court appearances that they continually reschedule and delay. David was always there for my questions, legal appearances, advice, etc. Very professional, knowledgeable, and experienced. Couldn’t of asked for better
Use White and save Green David White, Attorney at Law has been by far the most respectable, diligent, and driven attorney one could possibly hope for! I was referred to him by a family member as well as friend. I couldn’t have made a better decision in an attorney to represent me in Travis County. I made a mistake that could have made the rest of my life more difficult. He met with me and was extremely honest with with me about my case and the p...
Quick and stress free process Not only did David get my Class A dismissed quickly (2 months from arrest date to dismissal date) but he did for substantially less then all of the other lawyers I had contacted before him. I highly recommend David ‘s services to anyone in need.
Mr. White has your back I was referred to David White by UT Legal Services (I was a previous student) and I am very happy they did! He is very thorough, friendly, easy to reach, and most importantly: works quickly. He successfully completed my expunction process for a class C misdemeanor. I no longer live in Austin and he handled my case entirely over the phone with no problems. During my consultation he patiently answered all my questions. After ...
Over exceeded my expectations!! Mr. White is an amazing lawyer. He helped me through one of the scariest periods of my life, going through the legal system. I didn’t want to do it alone, but I wanted someone I knew I could talk to and would get results. Well, Mr. White succeeded! I got a dismissal and I have a date set to see if I can file for early expunction. It’s the best case scenario I could have asked for!
Amazing lawyer!! David White over exceeded my expectations. He was very honest and upfront. He didnt over promise. He’s a great person and a great attorney. I would highly, highly recommend him to defend you. He will get the job done.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney, David D. White who has more than 20 years of legal experience as an Austin Criminal Defense Lawyer.
608 West 12th Street, Suite B Austin, TX 78701
legalassistant@wm-attorneys.com 512-369-3737
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