What to Do After a DWI Arrest in Houston, TX

Been Arrested For A DWI? What To Do Now.

When you need to know what to do after a DWI arrest in Houston, there’s a good chance you just spent the night in jail. Typically, people want to get out and push that drunk driving charge out of their minds. Don’t make that mistake!

Following an arrest for driving while intoxicated (DWI), it’s essential that you take immediate action. When you do, you take action to protect your liberties and stay on the road legally. After DWI charges, people often don’t realize they have to deal with multiple cases. 

The case on your mind is your drunk driving charges, where the state claims you drove while intoxicated. However, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) also files charges against you to suspend your license. 

There are certain steps to take as soon as possible in order to keep your license viable. With a Houston DWI lawyer on your side, you have someone to guide you through the process. 

Step One: Find a Good Attorney

As you read this on our website, we hope you find a good attorney here at The Martinez Law Firm. Generally, though, you want to look online and read reviews. Additionally, recommendations from friends and family are always a great place to start. 

Above all else, it’s essential to meet and speak with the attorney. Because an attorney is your advocate, your future is in their hands. It’s important for you to feel comfortable and confident in your choice.

A DWI defense attorney protects you, your freedom, your license, and your future. That’s why it’s so important to meet with them.  

What to Look for in a DWI Defense Attorney

When you speak with your potential attorney, you get a better idea of their experience with DWIs. After a DWI arrest, you want someone who knows the ins and outs of DWI laws in Texas. Your attorney needs to know how to handle themselves and share information with you. 

Why is this so important? That same individual shares information with the judge and negotiates with the prosecutors on your behalf. When you don’t feel comfortable with them, it’s possible the judge and prosecutors share that opinion. 

Next, know what questions to ask. 

• Do they understand the ALR process? 
• How do they handle license suspension hearings?
• What are the consequences of your ALR hearing? 

If the attorney cannot answer these simple questions, they are not the lawyer for you. 

Additionally, ask them about BAC tests and field sobriety tests to make sure they understand the procedures and processes. Moreover, you want to get an idea of their experience with DWI cases. 

Do they know what the NHTSA manual is? They should because that is the playbook officers follow in DWI investigations. 

Lastly, ask the attorney about the possible outcomes of a DWI case. After a DWI arrest, there are several different potential outcomes. 

Ideally, the court dismisses your case. However, there are other alternatives such as plea bargains and trials. No matter the details of your case, your attorney should seek the best possible outcome. 

When they hear the details of your arrest, they should be able to provide a few options and recommendations. 

Related Reading: Key Questions to Ask a DWI Lawyer

Step Two: Save Your License

An ALR or Administrative License Revocation is the hearing with the DPS. As such, your first step after a DWI arrest is to gather all the paperwork you receive. Next, talk to a criminal defense attorney. With an advocate on your side, you have someone to guide you through the process. 

Moreover, you have someone to protect your rights. 

With a criminal defense attorney, you have someone to explain the ALR process. Why is it so important to act quickly, though? 

You have 15 days to request an ALR hearing from the date of your arrest. That’s right – 15 days. 

This is entirely separated from your court setting for the DWI charges, which might be in two weeks or a month. It’s essential to realize that you have to act quickly to attain this hearing. 

Step Three: Bond Conditions

Next, you have to find out whether you have any bond conditions. The court imposes these conditions on people in specific circumstances. For example, after a DWI arrest, the court might require you to install an Ignition Interlock Device in your vehicle. 

Your attorney examines your case to see whether there is a way to remove conditions like these. That’s another reason to act quickly and seek out an attorney. 

Other examples of bond conditions include random drug testing and reporting to court in various ways. Once you and your lawyer secure your license, it’s time to gather evidence and build your DWI defense. 

Related Reading: Houston DWI Lawyer: Worth Hiring?

Step Four: Defense

In the weeks after a DWI arrest, the decisions you make impact the rest of your life. In addition to short-term impact, it stays on your record. That’s why it’s important to hire an attorney you trust to build your defense. 

Unlike other misdemeanors, DWIs carry certain severe consequences that other charges don’t. For instance, other cases simple do not come with an automatic license suspension if you don’t comply with certain steps. 

Moreover, they don’t carry long-term effects on your potential to work, live, and drive. When you have a good attorney after a DWI arrest, you have someone to investigate your case and defend your future. 

Hopefully, you now have the tools to find the best Houston DWI lawyer for your case.