Category Archives:DWI

Harris County DWI Pre-Trial Intervention Program

Harris County has a relatively new Pre-Trial Intervention Program (PTIP) for individuals charged with a first DWI.  A similar program, the DIVERT program, no longer exists, and the PTIP is now taking its place.  It is similar to DIVERT, but it is much harder to get into the program. (Not all judges allow entry)Harris County has a relatively new Pre-Trial Intervention Program (PTIP) for individuals charged with a first DWI.  A similar program, the DIVERT program, no longer exists, and the PTIP is now taking its place.  It is similar to DIVERT, but it is much harder to get into the program. (Not all judges allow entry)

Harris County DWI Pre-Trial Intervention Program

Pre-Trial Intervention Program Eligibility

To be eligible you must:

  • Be charged with DWI in Harris County Texas
  • This must be your first arrest of your adult life

If you have ever been arrested for any crime at all, even if the case was dismissed, you are more than likely not going to be accepted into the program.  That does not seem fair at all, but at this point, that is how things are working.  Juvenile convictions/arrests are ok, as long as you disclose those on your application for the program.

Factors to being rejected from PTI Program

Other things that could cause you to be rejected from the program (on a case by case, judge by judge, basis) are:

  • A breath or blood test of over .15
  • Getting into a traffic accident as part of the DWI
  • Not having a valid license at the time of the DWI
  • Not having insurance at the time of the DWI

If you are eligible for the DWI PTIP, you will have to pay $202 to be interviewed and do a SALCE (Substance Abuse Life Circumstance Evaluation) test, which is a test that predicts your alcohol and drug risk level as a part of the program.

You will also have to pay a “DA Fee” of $130 and possibly submit to a drug test.  Finally, you must include a letter discussing the night of your DWI, and accepting responsibility.  After all of that, if you are accepted into the program, a contract is drawn up by the District Attorney’s office for you to fill out with your attorney.

Contract with the District Attorney

Typical contract terms include:

  • 1 year program
  • Community service
  • Monthly fees
  • Monthly meetings
  • Random drug tests
  • Ignition interlock device
  • DWI education class

Other items such as AA classes/counseling/drug treatment can be added as recommended based on the SALCE exam, and the circumstances surrounding the case.  After the contract is filled out, you go before the judge, and the judge enters you into the program.  You meet with the probation officer of the court, attend an orientation that same week, and start your monthly meetings the following month.

The case is reset for 1 year, and if you successfully complete all of the terms and conditions of the program, the case is dismissed on your next court date.  However, if you do not comply with the terms and conditions, the program can be terminated at any time, and your case continues as if there was never an agreement.

For more information about the Harris County DWI Pre-Trial Intervention Program, please contact us today for a free consultation.

Texas Underage DWI Penalties

In Texas, DWI laws consider anyone who is under the age of 21 to be a minor. In Texas , driving on the roads implies that you are giving police officers implied consent to check your breath or your blood for the presence of alcohol or other drugs. This means that just by driving, you are already agreeing that it is ok for an officer to ask you to take a breath or blood test. If you refuse to do so your driver’s license could be suspended for 180 days on the 1st offense and 2 years on the second. If you do not have a driver’s license, then your driving privileges will be suspended the same number of days or years once you become eligible. Now this doesn’t mean you have to take a test, it is perfectly legal, and sometimes smarter to refuse any test that an officer might want you to take.In Texas, DWI laws consider anyone who is under the age of 21 to be a minor. In Texas , driving on the roads implies that you are giving police officers implied consent to check your breath or your blood for the presence of alcohol or other drugs. This means that just by driving, you are already agreeing that it is ok for an officer to ask you to take a breath or blood test. If you refuse to do so your driver’s license could be suspended for 180 days on the 1st offense and 2 years on the second. If you do not have a driver’s license, then your driving privileges will be suspended the same number of days or years once you become eligible. Now this doesn’t mean you have to take a test, it is perfectly legal, and sometimes smarter to refuse any test that an officer might want you to take.

Underage DWI penalties in Texas

Texas has a zero tolerance law for minors and alcohol. That means that if you are not yet 21, that you cannot have ANY alcohol in your system at all. Even if you are under the legal limit of .08. For a 1st offense you could face:

  • Suspended TDL for up to 2 years
  • A fine of up to $500
  • A class involving alcohol education
  • An ignition interlock in your vehicle if you do keep your license in some way
  • A possible additional suspension through a criminal judge
  • And any fines, court costs, probation fees, legal fees that might result from your arrest

If you do get a suspension it is possible to get an occupational license in Texas by going through the criminal court. Whether or not an occupational license is granted will depend on who the judge is, and the facts surrounding your case. If you are in this situation and have a question to whether or not you are eligible, please give me a call at 713-222-2828 and I will be glad to look at your case.

If you are in the unfortunate situation of being a minor (or being the parent of a minor) who is charged with an alcohol related offense, it is very important to hire a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Many times there are fast approaching deadlines (like a 15 day deadline to request an Administrative License Revocation Hearing – ALR) that must be dealt with. If certain deadlines are missed, it becomes much more difficult and sometimes impossible to prevent the drivers license from being suspended for some amount of time.

Again, if you have any questions about your particular situation, please call my office at 713-222-2828 and I will do my best to advice you on your next steps.

Don't Talk in the Back of a Police Car!

I recently wrote about the fact that many individuals are not aware that jail phone calls are recorded.  As a Houston DWI Lawyer I see individuals saying things they shouldn’t and getting themselves into trouble.  Unfortunately I also see people sitting in the back of police cars running their mouth for minutes and minutes at a time.  This is not smart, and there are a few reasons why.I recently wrote about the fact that many individuals are not aware that jail phone calls are recorded.  As a Houston DWI Lawyer I see individuals saying things they shouldn’t and getting themselves into trouble.  Unfortunately I also see people sitting in the back of police cars running their mouth for minutes and minutes at a time.  This is not smart, and there are a few reasons why.

First, you should never make any statements about your case to anyone other than your attorney…period!  You are never going to talk your way out of getting arrested, but you can easily talk your way into a conviction!  The dumbest things you can do when arrested is talk to an officer, or make some sort of statement that is recorded and can be used against you.

Second, there are usually cameras in DWI units!  Everything you say is going to be recorded.  The prosecutors (along with you and your attorney) are going to get a copy of the video and all of your wonderful words are going to be there for everyone to hear.  If you say dumb things, or make yourself look like a fool, the assistant district attorney working on your case is going to take notice.  You can turn a perfect dismissal into a potential trial just by saying the wrong things.

Finally, if you do end up having to go to trial, the jury is potentially going to see the video and listen to your words as well.  It is human nature to either instinctively like someone or not.  If you make yourself look and sound like a bad person, that’s what a jury is going to perceive you as.  And the last thing that you want is a jury thinking poorly of you.  On the other hand, if the jury doesn’t have any rambling video of you, they are more than likely never going to hear from you.  It is much better to have them know nothing about you, then to have them form an opinion based on a few seconds of anger/disappointment/fear.

Bottom line is don’t talk and be aware of your surroundings!  If you are reading this it might be too late, but maybe you can tell your friends and they can tell their friends and so on.  Any Houston DWI Attorney will tell you the same thing.  Make them prove you’re guilty based on the evidence at hand, not on what you say.  If you are arrested, contact a DWI Lawyer in Houstonwho can help you today.

Do Not Tamper With Your Ignition Interlock Device

Recently a person here in Harris County was looking for a DWI Attorney in Houston.  This individual was a hardworking man who was genuinely concerned about money.  He had been placed on probation for DWI and one of the conditions required him to place an ignition interlock device in his vehicle.  Even though this cost him about $75 a month, he had to do it because it was ordered by the judge.Recently a person here in Harris County was looking for a DWI Attorney in Houston.  This individual was a hardworking man who was genuinely concerned about money.  He had been placed on probation for DWI and one of the conditions required him to place an ignition interlock device in his vehicle.  Even though this cost him about $75 a month, he had to do it because it was ordered by the judge.

This individual signed a paper regarding this interlock device that had a few rules that he had to follow.  Basically he could only operate a vehicle that was equipped with this device, he had to take the device in for monthly maintenance, and he was not allowed to tamper with the device or circumvent the system.

Well this person happened to be a mechanic, and he knew all the ins and outs of vehicles and machinery in general.  He was having many problems with the interlock device that they had placed in his car.  Sometimes it wouldn’t work, it would beep and make funny noises, and one time in particular it left him stranded.  He was at a store and when he got to his vehicle the machine would not work.  Since the machine wouldn’t work, the car wouldn’t turn on.  So what he decided to do was use his knowledge to take the machine apart and drive to the company so they could fix it.

He drove to the company, told them what happened, and they installed a new one.  What they didn’t tell him was that they were going to report him to the court for tampering with the device.  The next thing he knew, he was back in court dealing with a motion to revoke his probation based on him tampering with the interlock.

This obviously doesn’t seem fair, and it’s not, but he could have handled it another way.  He was concerned that if he told the company they would have to tow the car and that would cost him money, but he should have at least called.  By not calling anyone it hurt his case, and called into question what really happened.

Now this person ended up hiring another DWI Lawyer in Houston, so I don’t know what happened, but I am hoping that they reinstated his probation.  But it is a good reminder to follow the rules.  As dumb as they may be at times, it is your life and your liberty on the line.  If anything like this happens to you, or if you have any questions before you make a decision similar to his, just consult with your Houston DWI Attorney.  There is a very good chance that your attorney has seen someone with a problem very similar to yours and can help.

Why do officers take away your drivers license?

As a Houston DWI Attorney I represent a lot of individuals who are charged with Driving While Intoxicated.  These cases are very complex and there are always multiple things going on at once.  One perfect example is the individuals’ driver’s license and what happens to it when you get charged with DWI.  If you are a defendant and you are charged with DWI you are probably going to have your license taken away.As a Houston DWI Attorney I represent a lot of individuals who are charged with Driving While Intoxicated.  These cases are very complex and there are always multiple things going on at once.  One perfect example is the individuals’ driver’s license and what happens to it when you get charged with DWI.  If you are a defendant and you are charged with DWI you are probably going to have your license taken away.

One of the first questions I usually get is, “is my license suspended?”  The answer is NO!  For some reason law enforcement officials are trained to take your driver’s license away when you are charged with DWI.  They do not care if you are innocent or guilty; they just automatically take it from you.  They usually end up giving you a temporary driving permit which is good for 40 days after the date of arrest.  But why do they take your actual license away?

From talking with officers it seems the reason is that they assume that defendant in DWI’s are not going to request an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) Hearing within 15 days of their arrest.  When a defendant doesn’t request an ALR, then the license is automatically suspended after 40 days.  The problem with assuming is that it hurts the individuals who do request the ALR.

So if this happens to you it is important to contact a good Houston DWI Attorney who can advise you what to do to get your real license back.  It can be very annoying having a paper license with no picture.  Sometimes it’s not even about the license itself, but more about having an ID.  And why should you not have your license when it’s not legally suspended?  It makes no sense, and in order to get the license back as soon as possible make sure to contact a DWI Lawyer in Houston who knows what to do to help you.