What to Do If You Are Charged with DWI in Central Texas

Trust our decades of criminal defense experience to guide you

Getting charged with a DWI in Texas can come with serious consequences. Depending on the specifics, you may face fines, jail time, probation time, and/or a license suspension.

Our Austin DWI defense lawyers at Botsford & Roark have decades of experience protecting the rights and reputations of those accused of DWI in Central Texas. We know how to minimize the negative consequences of an arrest and effectively fight for your freedom. But there are some things that you can do to help your case, as well.

And remember, if you have been charged, don’t face your legal challenges alone. Contact us for a free case evaluation. We can answer questions and explain your legal options.

Here’s what to do if you are charged with driving while intoxicated in Central Texas:

• Don’t provide too many details. You have the right to remain silent and you should use it. Anything you say can hurt your case. So, while it may make sense to be honest if you are not under the influence, you may want to deflect a police officer’s questions if you drank or are otherwise impaired.
• Document everything immediately. Details become crucial in DWI cases, with many cases being won or lost due to seemingly insignificant moments. As such, you should take the time to document everything that happened right after it occurred. The simplest method is to write it all down. This should include where and when you were stopped, why the officer said they stopped you, and any tests they performed.
• Don’t refuse a BAC test. You are within your rights to refuse field sobriety tests, but you cannot refuse to take a blood or breath test to determine blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Refusing this test would reflect very poorly on you and significantly hurt your chances of winning your case.
• Make your social media private. Prosecutors frequently scour social media pages in search of incriminating posts, photos, or videos. They cherry-pick posts out of context and frame them in a way that makes you look bad. If you keep your social media pages public, you essentially give the prosecutor more chances to incriminate you.
• Talk to witnesses. Think about who you interacted with on the day in question and see who a witness could be. Witnesses are especially useful if they were with you during the stop or saw you immediately before or after it.
• Arrange an ALR hearing. If you do not arrange an ALR hearing, also known as a DMV hearing, following your DWI charges, your license will be suspended automatically. With a hearing, however, you may be able to prevent its suspension until your case is finalized.
• Hire a lawyer. One of your early actions should be to hire a lawyer with experience in DWI cases such as Botsford & Roark. Be sure to choose an attorney with this focus or experience, as DWI cases are incredibly complicated. There are also specific rules regarding the alcohol tests and other common pieces of evidence, which your lawyer can navigate.

Rely on our experience to protect your reputation and future

If you have been charged with DWI in Austin, Travis County, or another Central Texas community, contact Botsford & Roark for a free case evaluation. Our Austin, Texas DWI defense lawyers have decades of experience protecting the rights and freedom of people accused of drunk driving. Contact us to find out what we can do for you. A member of our team is available to hear from you any time, day or night. There is no obligation to hire us, just information you can trust.