First Time Offenders

Persons convicted on a charge of drunken driving face jail time, fines, and the suspension or loss of their license. Even if you are a first time DUI / DWI offender, Texas imposes a minimum 72 hour jail sentence, fines of up to $2,000, and 12 hours of DWI driver education. Additionally, you will be required to perform up to 80 hours of community service. For repeat offenders, jail time and fines increase, as well as the likelihood of the revocation or suspension of your license. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your arrest, as well as your driving record, reducing the charges and sentence against you may be possible. At the law office of Frederick & Coley, we work with prosecutors in helping our clients avoid the more serious consequences associated with a DUI / DWI.

Before you plead "guilty" to a charge of DUI / DWI, contact DUI lawyers Frederick & Coley today and schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. What you do early on can make a difference for what happens later --

Considerations for Repeat DUI / DWI Offenders

Persons already convicted on a charge of DUI face the following penalties:

• Mandatory jail time: Depending on the circumstances involved, second time offenders face 3 days to 1 year in jail. A third DUI offense is a 3rd degree felony under Texas state law and is punishable up to 2-10 years in prison.
• Fines: Repeat offenders face up to $4,000 in fines. An additional charge of $1,500 per year for three years is assigned for a second DUI / DWI. If a person's blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit, an additional $2,000 fine is imposed. These figures do not reflect the increased costs of your insurance premiums as a result of a DUI / DWI conviction; depending on your insurer, increased insurance costs could equal several thousand dollars over the course of a few or several years.
• Community Service: Repeat offenders can expect to serve between 80 and 200 hours of community service.
• Additional Considerations: Repeat offenders are required to enroll in driver education classes and may be required to install an ignition lock device on their vehicle. This device determines whether there is any alcohol on the breath of a driver. Before the vehicle will start, a driver must blow into the device and have it indicate the absence of alcohol on the driver's breath.

When a DUI / DWI Must be Challenged

Not all persons charged with DUI are guilty of driving drunk, nor should their case go to court. Officers may have pulled you over without reasonable suspicion; your field sobriety test may have been incorrectly administered; or, the breathalyzer used may have been improperly calibrated. When good reasons exist to doubt the validity of your arrest, our attorneys have the investigative and forensic resources needed to challenge the charges against you. We immediately request the maintenance record of a breathalyzer, the dashboard videotape footage of your arrest, and a copy of the police report to determine if the evidence against you should be thrown out.

Questions? Concerned? Contact Frederick & Coley Today

Before you plead guilty, get the facts surrounding DUI / DWI arrests in Texas. We have the resources and experience needed to prepare your case and help you confront the charges against you. To schedule a free consultation, contact DUI lawyers at the law office of Frederick & Coley today.