Laredo DWI Lawyer

BEST DWI LAWYER IN WEBB COUNTY

Driving While Intoxicated is a serious charge. If you are facing a DWI in Webb County, it’s important to understand the consequences. A DWI arrest results in a driver’s license suspension. DWI charges also negatively impact work opportunities and restrict the right to travel.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A FIRST DWI IN LAREDO OCCURS?

After being arrested, a person with a DWI charge is taken to the Webb County Jail in downtown Laredo for processing. They will need to make an appearance before a magistrate judge, who will set the bond amount and other conditions of release.

This process is slow, impractical, and frustrating. It often takes 8-10 months from jail release before a DWI case is resolved.

• What to expect after arrest for DWI in Webb County?
  
  Hiring a top law firm is the most important first step after arrest. There are fast-moving deadlines that require professional attention almost immediately after being arrested. There are only 15 days to contest the automatic driver’s license suspension. The contest is important, and should not be missed.

• What happens on the first court date in Texas?
  
  The first court date is called arraignment in Texas. The first court date is a short, formal appearance where the judge ensures the defendant knows the charge(s) and is represented by counsel. Missing this court date will result in additional criminal charges. It is important to seek legal counsel ahead of these early dates and deadlines.

• How to get out of a DWI charge in Laredo?
  
  Challenging the State’s evidence, applying relevant Texas law office, and relentlessly looking for an opportunity to leverage a State’s weakness or error into a defense advantage.

HOW TO REINSTATE A LICENSE FOLLOWING A DWI CHARGE

Driving privileges are subject to suspension after a DWI charge in Texas, but they are not immediately suspended. A replacement driver’s license can be requested from the Texas Department of Public Safety online. Getting your license card back does not prevent a suspension, and it does not serve as a request for an administrative hearing.

• License after a first DWI in Webb County
  
  A driver’s license can be suspended after a DWI arrest in Webb County, Texas. The Texas DPS suspends driving privileges for those charged with DUI in Texas.

• Driving with a suspended license in Webb County
  
  No. It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle with a suspended license in Texas. Driving with a suspended license while a DWI is pending in Webb County Court can result in bond revocation and additional criminal charges. An Occupational License is the only way to legally drive during a period of suspension in Texas.

DOES A DUI RESULT IN AN IMMEDIATE LICENSE SUSPENSION?

Individuals charged with driving while intoxicated in Texas face an automatic Administrative License Revocation (ALR) suspension of their driving privileges. The suspension takes effect approximately 40 days from the date of arrest.

The ALR hearing is the only chance to contest the suspension. The ALR hearing is an important part of the process and should never be skipped over.

• How to recover a license after a DWI in Laredo?
  
  If a license card is confiscated, a new license may be requested through the Texas DPS website. If the license is suspended, the individual may be eligible for an Occupational Driver License.

• What is ALR hearing?
  
  Individuals charged in Webb County for driving while intoxicated face an automatic administrative license revocation (ALR). After an ALR suspension takes effect, it is illegal to drive. The suspension takes effect approximately 40 days from the date of arrest. The ALR hearing is the one and only chance to contest the suspension.

• How long is a license suspended for a Driving While Intoxicated Offense?
  
  Driving privileges are suspended for 90 – 180 days after an arrest in Webb County. Commercially licensed drivers face significantly longer periods of suspension.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF INCARCERATION FOR A FIRST DWI?

Jail time is a real, legal possibility for first-time offenders. The range of incarceration faced depends on a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The maximum jail sentence for DWI 1st in Laredo is 12 months unless enhanced by aggravating factors.

• What is the penalty for a first-time DWI in Webb County?
  
  A first-time DWI charge in WEBB County is a Class B misdemeanor. The maximum fine is $3,000.00, and the maximum jail sentence is 6 months. A conviction for this offense is permanent, and results in a driver’s license suspension. Aggravating factors can enhance the penalties in Texas.

• What is the punishment for the DWI in Laredo?
  
  Punishment is either probation or jail time. There is no minimum probation period. The maximum period of incarceration for misdemeanors is one year, and 10 years for felony DWI charges. The punishment a person receives is largely impacted by the representation they choose. A powerful, experienced defense can make the difference between a dismissal and a conviction.

• Is the first DWI a felony in Laredo?
  
  A first-time DWI charge in Webb County is a Class B misdemeanor. However, aggravating factors like serious bodily injury or the presence of a child passenger under 15 years old can result in felony charges.

WHAT CONSEQUENCES DO DWI OFFENSES CARRY IN LAREDO?

The penalties for DWI in Laredo are serious. DWI penalties include jail time of up to one year for first-time offenders, driver’s license suspension restricted Second Amendment and travel rights, and thousands of dollars in fines. Additionally, a permanent criminal conviction can have lifelong consequences on professional licenses, college admissions, and security clearances.

It is critical to avoid a conviction for DWI in Texas at all costs.

• What are the penalties for a Webb County misdemeanor DWI?
  
  First-time DWI charges are Class B misdemeanors, though they can be enhanced by certain factors. The penalties for DWI first in Laredo are up to 1 year in jail, up to $6,000.00 in fines, loss of driving privileges, loss of constitutional rights, and the far-reaching repercussions of a permanent criminal conviction.

• What are the penalties for Class B DWI charge in Laredo?
  
  DWI with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) below 0.14 is a Class B misdemeanor. This categorization does not change if drugs are found in the blood analysis. The maximum fine for this offense is $3,000.00, and the maximum jail sentence is 6 months. A conviction for this offense is permanent, and results in a driver’s license suspension.

• Is a .15 or higher a DWI in Laredo?
  
  DWI with a BAC of 0.15 or higher is a Class A misdemeanor in Webb County, Texas. The maximum fine is $6,000.00, and the maximum jail sentence is 12 months. A conviction for this offense is permanent, and results in a driver’s license suspension.

• What are the penalties for DWI with Open Container in Webb County?
  
  DWI with an Open Container is a Class A or B misdemeanor, depending on a person’s BAC, falling into the same punishment ranges as set forth above. However, a person convicted of this offense faces a minimum of 6 days in jail because of the Open Container enhancement.

SECOND DWI OFFENSE PENALTIES IN LAREDO

Individuals released on bond for DWI 2nd in Webb County are required to install the ignition interlock device in all vehicles they drive. This is expensive and inconvenient. Additionally, jail time is a requirement of punishment for DWI 2nd – even if probation is granted.

• How much does a second DUI cost?
  
  The maximum fine for a DWI 2nd offense in Laredo is $6,000.00. Court costs, probation, and pretrial fees can add thousands of more dollars to the total amount a person could be required by law to pay for a DWI 2nd in Webb county.

• Can you go to jail for DWI 2nd in Laredo?
  
  Yes, jail time is a possibility when facing a DWI 2nd charge. The maximum period of incarceration is 1 year in the Webb County Jail.

COMPARING DWI AND DUI CHARGES IN WEBB COUNTY

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is a Class C misdemeanor in Texas. DUI only applies to minors under 21. Minors are prohibited from operating a motor vehicle with any detectable alcohol in their system, making the legal limit for a DUI charge 0.0.

• Can Laredo DUI charges be dismissed?
  
  Yes. DUI charges in Laredo can be dismissed. Hiring an experienced DUI lawyer is the first step toward, obtaining a dismissal. Never plead guilty to a DUI charge. Dismissed DUI charges can be expunged, record sealing and deleted from the record.

• Can you avoid jail time for a 1st DUI in Webb County?
  
  Yes, jail can be avoided for a DUI charge in Webb County, Texas. DUI is a Class C misdemeanor, and jail is not legally available as a punishment for first-time offenders.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR JAIL RELEASE AFTER DWI ARREST IN WEBB COUNTY?

Jail release in Laredo can take up to, and sometimes longer than, 24 hours. It’s a difficult, time-consuming process.

• How much is bail for a DWI in Laredo?
  
  Bail for first-time DWI charges in Texas rarely exceeds $5,000.00. This is the first of many costs associated with the Texas DWI process. Judges have total discretion over bond amounts.

AVERAGE EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH A DWI CASE IN LAREDO

DWI charges are expensive. Being convicted can be financially devastating. It’s impossible to put a price on what it’s worth to avoid jail and a permanent criminal conviction. 

• DWI in Laredo first offense cost?
  
  The maximum fine for a first DWI offense in Texas is $6,000.00. The total damage a permanent criminal conviction has on job opportunities and lost income may be .

• How much is a DWI lawyer in Laredo?
  
  Fighting the costs thousands of dollars. In Laredo, even first-time offenders can face up to 365 days in jail. Good lawyers are attentive to communication, detailed and focused with strategy, and often get the best results for their clients.

• How much does a DWI Cost in Webb County, Texas?
  
  The maximum fine for a first or second DWI offense in Texas is $6,000.00. The maximum fine for felony charges is $10,000.00. An effective DWI lawyer can fight for dismissal and work to mitigate consequences.

STRATEGIES FOR DEFENDING AGAINST A DWI CHARGE IN LAREDO

Leveraging powerful constitutional rights – like the Sixth Amendment’s Confrontation Clause – can have a devastating effect on the State’s case. The Webb County District Attorney cannot legally obtain a conviction in a case where necessary evidence has been suppressed by a judge.

• Can a DWI be dismissed in Laredo?
  
  Challenging the State’s evidence is the most effective way to dismiss a DWI charge, whether it’s a DWI first offense, DWI 2nd, or even a felony DWI 3rd or more. If a judge suppresses evidence, the State cannot use it to prosecute.

• What are the chances of DWI dismissal in Webb County?
  
  Criminal charges are regularly dismissed in Webb County courtrooms. Charges are not dismissed through goodwill or luck, rather they are dismissed because of a powerful defense strategy that forces the State prosecutors to dismiss the charge. Challenging evidence is a critical part of obtaining a dismissal.

DWI ON PERMANENT RECORD

Forever. DWI charges are permanent and remain on the record forever. If the charge was dismissed without probation, it may be eligible for removal and deletion through the legal process of expunction. If the charge resulted in a conviction, it may be eligible to be sealed through an order of nondisclosure.

• Can a DWI be expunged and removed from the record?
  
  DWI charges that resulted in dismissal may be deleted through the legal process of expunction. Charges not eligible for expunction may still qualify for an order of nondisclosure, which has the effect of sealing the record.

• How long does a DWI stay on a driving record?
  
  DWI charges stay on a person’s Texas driving history forever. Texas DPS does not wipe or restart records every 7 years. However, in qualifying situations, DWI charges can be removed from the public record through an expungement.

DETERMINING THE BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION

The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit in Texas is 0.08. Blood alcohol content levels that exceed this amount are over the legal alcohol limit for driving a motor vehicle in Texas.

• What BAC level is considered DUI in Texas?
  
  0.1 is the legal limit for DUI in Texas. DUI only applies to minors in Texas. The legal alcohol limit for adults in Texas is 0.08. BAC is not required for DWI in Texas. Police regularly arrest motorists based on field sobriety tests and other factors without offering a breath or blood test.

Trey Porter’s law firm is a dynamic Webb County attorney, nationally recognized for his work in Criminal Defense. Voted by his peers as a best lawyer in the field of Criminal Defense every year since 2015, Mr. Porter is recognized as a Texas SuperLawyer, and distinguished as a Top Criminal Defense Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Porter holds a Superb rating from AVVO, where attorneys are rated based on skillful litigation, client satisfaction, peer endorsements, and positive results.

• Do I need a lawyer for a DWI?
  
  Yes. When facing criminal prosecution, it is necessary to seek counsel. An experienced DWI attorney works to protect and preserve rights. Having the best legal quality representation can yield the best results in a criminal case.

• Can a DWI be dismissed?
  
  Yes, DWI charges can be dismissed and dropped in Webb County. DWI arrests are warrantless arrests. Police officers must establish reasonable suspicion and probable cause in every case, every time, without exception. A powerful defense reviews and challenges all evidence to leverage mistakes or weaknesses into a dismissal or reduction.

BEST DWI LAWYER IN WEBB COUNTY, TEXAS

Trey Porter Law represents people facing Intoxication & DWI charges in Webb County, as well as the surrounding areas of Eagle Pass, and Del Rio. Standing up for accused individuals, from students to teachers, veterans to first responders, and professionals across varied industries and disciplines, TPL brings a results-oriented & client-focused approach to solving complex problems.

Webb County Driving While Intoxicated Resources

Access to information is important when dealing with a criminal charge. The following entities play an important role in the Laredo criminal justice system. For more information visit the Webb County, Texas website.

Here are the contact details for various offices in Webb County, Texas, that is relevant to DWI cases:

Webb County District Attorney:

• Contact the District Attorney’s office for information on the prosecution of criminal cases, including DWI charges.
• Website: Webb County District Attorney’s Office

Webb County Sheriff:

• The Sheriff’s office has information about arrests and related law enforcement matters.
• Website: Webb County Sheriff’s Office Website

Webb County Jail:

• If someone has been arrested, you can contact the county jail for information on booking, visitation, and inmate status.
• Website: Webb County Jail Information

Webb County District Clerk:

• The District Clerk’s office has information on court dockets, scheduling, and case management.
• Website: Webb County District Clerk’s Office Website

Legal processes can vary, so it’s best to speak with an attorney for advice tailored to your situation. Reach out to our legal team here at Trey Porter Law today.