When police officers pull someone over on suspicion of drunk driving, they may not give them a breath test right away. Instead, officers may ask a motorist to perform field sobriety tests, which are designed to expose impairment. If someone struggles with the tests,...
DWI
Is a Texas DWI charge a felony offense?
Many motorists in Texas don't think of traffic infractions as serious crimes, but the state certainly does. Driving while intoxicated (DWI) charges in Texas are among the most serious traffic infractions, both because of how Texas law treats this offense and because...
The ripple effect of a DWI conviction
You see a police officer’s lights come on behind you while driving home from a night out. You know that you’ve had a few drinks and you’re wondering if you’re over the legal limit. You start to worry about the potential ramifications of your situation. If you’re...
When does Texas require someone to install an IID?
Anyone who has been accused of a driving while intoxicated (DWI) offense in Texas could be at risk of incarceration, financial penalties and license suspension. Occasionally, the restrictions on someone's driving privileges won't only involve a temporary inability to...
Knowing your rights to sobriety tests
Under the suspicion of drunk driving or, in some cases, after an accident, police may ask a driver to engage in a sobriety test. Police are trained to do one of two sobriety tests: Breath test: police may use a small, mobile tool that evaluates a driver’s...
Evidence connected to DWI charges won’t always hold up in court
Police officers interacting with you during the traffic stop or after a car crash will use every bit of information they can to build a criminal case against you. Often, they will ask you a few questions, and the way that you answer may lead to a request for field...
When will Texas prosecutors pursue felony DUI charges?
Most people arrested for a driving while intoxicated (DWI) offense in Texas will face misdemeanor charges. A typical arrest involving a traffic stop with no injuries to others is usually a misdemeanor, but there are a few circumstances in which Texas prosecutors could...
A failed breath test won’t automatically lead to a DWI conviction
Police officers have used chemical breath tests for drunk driving enforcement for decades. They have people blow into testing units that scan for alcohol in their exhaled breath. Many people in Texas convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenses have those...
You chef-prepared dinner could leave you intoxicated
Many people believe that alcohol cooks off when it’s added to food. They think that the flavor is all that remains or that there is minimal alcohol when heat is applied. The reality is that alcohol may still be in the dish and could lead to impairment in large enough...
What happens if you refuse a breath test?
If an officer pulls you over and asks if you’ve been drinking, you may know that you don’t have to answer that question. By refusing to give any answers, you might, however, prompt the officer into asking you to give a breath sample. With a Breathalyzer test, officers...