Harris County DWI Lawyer

Harris County DWI Attorney

Are you facing charges for DWI in Harris County? An arrest and charges for driving while intoxicated (DWI) can happen in an instant, but the repercussions are long-lasting. Even as a first-time DWI defendant, you could spend days in jail, lose your Texas driver’s licenses, and pay substantial fines. These are the consequences you can’t afford, which is why you need a Harris County criminal defense lawyer to act in your defense attorneys.

Harris County DWI Defense Law Firm

As elsewhere in Texas, Harris County is subject to the county criminal defense law of the state, including the statutes criminalizing DWI. The Texas statute on DWI is short and straightforward. It states that any individual is guilty of DWI if:

• A person operates a motor vehicle,
• In a public place, and
• While Intoxicated.

A prosecutor needs to establish all three of these elements of DWI beyond a reasonable doubt to win a conviction for DWI in Harris County. Our team of experienced criminal defense lawyers in Harris County and Houston, look to fight your DWI charges on the merits, by bringing evidence that one of these elements is in doubt. However, these aren’t the only arguments we can make in your defense.

The legal team at Greco Neyland also fights criminal defense charges in Harris County based on procedure, due process, and questioning the accounts of eyewitnesses and law enforcement. Our willingness to attack criminal defense charges from multiple angles wins more cases for our clients.

What Is the Punishment for a DWI Conviction?

The State of Texas imposes strong punishments for the conviction of DWI. The state has serious consequences for first-time offenders and heightened sentencing for drivers who:

• Have a BAC above 0.15%, known as aggravated DWI;
• Commit county criminal court with a child passenger in the vehicle;
• Cause bodily injury or serious harm to another person while driving intoxicated; and
• Have prior DWI convictions on their criminal defense law record.

Whether your circumstances fall in one of these more serious categories of county criminal court, some of which are felony offenses in Harris County, or you are a first-time offender, it is beneficial to hire a Harris County criminal lawyer.

A first conviction for county criminal court in Texas is a class B misdemeanor, and even a first-time offender faces these criminal defense law and administrative consequences:

• Suspension of your driver’s license for up to two years;
• 72-hour jail sentence in a county jail;
• Installation of an ignition interlock device;
• Participation in a drug or alcohol program;
• Designated hours of community service; and
• Substantial Harris County criminal defense law and administrative fines.

What Does Intoxicated Mean in Harris County Texas?

Crucial to an arrest and conviction for DWI in Harris County is determining when a driver is intoxicated. Law enforcement and the court must find that you were intoxicated while behind the wheel of a vehicle, in order to reach a conviction for DWI. So, what does intoxicated mean in Texas?

In Harris County, state law defines the term “intoxication” in Section 4901 of the Texas Penal Code. Intoxication is either:

• Not having the normal use of your physical or mental faculties, as a result of the consumption of a controlled substance or alcohol; or

• Having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher.

Typically, law enforcement in Texas, whether it is a Harris County sheriff or local police officer, will determine intoxication through a chemical test. When measuring intoxication by alcohol, a breath test is standard procedure. This breath test, or breathalyzer, provides a reading of your BAC, giving law enforcement a verifiable and objective reason to make an arrest for DWI in Harris County.

A breathalyzer test isn’t foolproof. These devices must be maintained in a specific manner, the test results handled and preserved carefully, and the procedure leading to a breath test in line with the federal due process. When any of these processes aren’t followed a Harris County DWI lawyer at Greco Neyland can make a strong argument in your defense.

Meet a Top DWI Lawyer in Harris County

Do you know the best way to build your criminal defense to DWI Lawyer in Harris County? You need to sit down with a top DWI lawyer in the area and discuss your case. Our team at Greco Neyland takes this initial conversation very seriously, and to prove it, we provide the consultation for free.

A free initial consultation at Greco Neyland is your opportunity to meet with a top DWI lawyer in Harris County and finally start building a defense to the criminal defense law charges.