The penalties for driving under the influence are designed to be harsh to discourage a person from driving drunk again. Yet, a person can have a second or even third charge for drunk driving and will need to ensure they contact a DWI defense lawyer in Waxahachie, TX to get help. The lawyer will help them minimize the penalties and can help them avoid another conviction when possible.
The second time a person is convicted of a DUI, they face jail time of 30 days to one year, up to $4,000 in fines or more if there was a child under the age of 15 in the vehicle, and 180 days to two years with a license suspension. They will also be required to have an IID (interlock ignition device) on their vehicle once they are able to drive again. In Texas, there is no period at which a DUI is erased from their record, so if they have a prior conviction at any time in their past, their new charge will count as a second offense for the purposes of determining the penalties after a conviction.
A lawyer is going to review their case extensively to determine if there’s any way to have the charges dismissed. This is possible in many cases, but not all. If the charges can be dismissed, the person will no longer face the serious penalties of a conviction. However, if the charges cannot be dismissed, the lawyer may then work on simply reducing the penalties they will receive after a conviction. They might be able to avoid two years in jail and, instead, spend the minimum 30 days in jail. This can reduce the impact the DUI will have on their future, even though they will have a conviction.
If you’ve been arrested and charged with drunk driving, especially if you’ve already been convicted of a DWI once before, you need to contact a DWI defense lawyer in Waxahachie, TX for help right away.
Visit our website today to learn more and to contact a lawyer from Mallios & Associates P.C. to get the help you need. This could be the difference between a dismissal of the charges and conviction with maximum penalties applied.