Pleading guilty to a DWI charge in Texas results in a permanent criminal conviction. Additional consequences include loss of driving privileges, gun rights, travel restrictions, and immeasurable harm to future job opportunities and college and university admission.
- Should I plead guilty to Misdemeanor DWI in Texas? First-time offenders should only plead guilty to DWI as an option of last resort. DWI charges in Texas, especially first-time offenses, can be beaten.
- Should I plead guilty to Felony DWI in Texas? Felony DWI cases are complex. Repeat offenders face a maximum of 10 years in prison for a third offense. This is an enormous increase from the 1 year penalty a DWI 2nd offense carries.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I PLEAD GUILTY TO A DUI IN TEXAS?
Entering a plea of guilty to a DUI charge results in a permanent criminal conviction. Minors should never, under any circumstances, enter a plea of guilty to a DUI charge in Texas. The penalties for DUI are significantly different than those associated with a DWI charge. For this reason, there is simply nothing to lose in taking a DUI case, no matter the facts, to trial.
- Can you go to jail for pleading guilty to DUI in Texas? No. DUI is a Class C Misdemeanor in Texas. Aside from the initial arrest and detention, there is no jail punishment associated with DUI in Texas. However, a minor under 21 years old could face jail time if charged as an adult, with DWI.
- Should I hire a lawyer for a DUI in Texas? Everyone charged with DUI in Texas should immediately hire an attorney. The State has enormous resources with which to seek a conviction. Considering the weight of the consequences, it is critical to do everything possible to avoid a DWI conviction. It starts with building a strong defense.
CAN YOU GO TO JAIL FOR PLEADING GUILTY TO DWI?
Every person charged with DWI in Texas is facing jail time. The maximum jail sentence for a first-time DWI offense is up to 1 year in a county jail. Repeat offenders at the felony level face up to 10 years in prison, but in certain circumstances, can face more time.
- Can a DWI in Texas be Expunged? A DWI charge can be expunged if it resulted in a dismissal that did not involve community supervision probation. If a DWI was dismissed after probation through deferred adjudication it may still qualify to be sealed through an Order of Nondisclosure.
- Difference between no contest and guilty plea? The main difference between no contest and guilty plea in Texas is that a guilty plea is a defendant’s judicial admission of guilt for the crime alleged where a no contest plea is not a defendant’s admission of guilt. In many instances the court will still find a defendant guilty under either plea. A major consideration in entering a no contest vs guilty plea is whether an admission of guilt will establish liability in a related context or litigation, like in a vehicular accident subject to civil damages.
WHY WOULD SOMEONE PLEAD NO CONTEST?
A criminal defendant would plead no contest in a deferred adjudication plea where the judge is withholding an immediate finding of guilt. Additionally, for defendants facing multiple charges or civil liability, pleading no contest to a misdemeanor might preserve important defense tactics in furtherance of an overall legal strategy.
- How long does a no contest plea stay on your record? A no contest plea stays permanently on criminal records in Texas unless it is expunged. Expungement is the only way to clear these records as they do not automatically go away even if subject to a pardon or vacated on appeal.
- What does no contest mean in court? No contest is a type of plea entered by criminal defendants in Texas who wish to resolve a charge without making an affirmative representation of guilt. A plea bargain strategy is best refined by consulting an experienced Texas DWI attorney or Texas criminal defense attorney and law firm.
BEST TEXAS DUI LAWYERS
Trey Porter Law provides powerful representation for people facing DUI and DWI charges across Texas. Results matter most when your freedom and future are on the line. Trey Porter Law brings over 40 years of combined experience, strategic knowledge, and a hard-earned reputationof winning to every case the firm takes on. The top-rated lawyers at TPL have a steadfast commitment to uncompromising results.
