Avoid Mistakes with a Texas DWI Defense Attorney
Police officers and prosecutors who pursue individuals suspected of DWIs and other criminal offenses love when those individuals make mistakes and actually help build cases against themselves. These mistakes are fairly common and it is natural for many people to commit them after being arrested. An experienced lawyer can help you recognize and avoid these mistakes, which will improve your chances of presenting an effective criminal defense.
As a former DWI prosecutor in Galveston County, Texas, and currently as a defense attorney, I have seen what happens when these common DWI mistakes are made by people who do not realize that they are doing anything wrong. These mistakes include:
Explaining your way out of a charge.
Some people have an underlying belief that the more they talk, the more sympathy they will receive from police officers. This is simply not true and nearly everything that you say can be used against you by virtue of the recorder that is recording your every word. Police officers are there to do a job and they will not be prevented from doing that job by someone trying to convince them otherwise.
Believing you have to perform field sobriety tests.
Field sobriety tests in the state of Texas are not mandatory and it is generally advisable not to perform them during a DWI stop. These tests are often difficult even for coordinated or athletic people to pass - especially with the nervousness that may accompany a traffic stop and the conditions on the side of the road - but evidence from those tests will still be used against you. Think about it, if you wanted to design a test for determining the balance and coordination of a normal person would you ask them to stand with their feet together or rather in a shoulder width distance. These tests are designed to promote instability. It is a smart decision to politely decline, or simply remain silent when asked to perform these tests.
Pleading guilty without getting legal advice.
Unfortunately, some people arrested for DWIs in the state of Texas believe that there is nothing that can be done to prove their innocence and they plead guilty rather than fight. In most cases, however, there are rarely open and shut cases and all elements of the arrest and investigation should be examined by an attorney. Before pleading guilty, get the legal advice you need.
Not hiring an experienced Texas DWI attorney right away.
In Texas, a person arrested for a DWI only has 15 days to request an Administrative Law Review (ALR) hearing to challenge the automatic suspension of their driver's license. Additionally, you should also begin building a defense for the criminal proceeding as soon as possible. Waiting to hire an attorney could put you at a significant disadvantage.
Contact me, attorney Bret Griffin, to learn how to avoid these and other mistakes and to get the experienced legal representation that you deserve. My firm offers payments plans and free initial consultations for your convenience. Schedule an appointment at my Houston office by calling toll free at 888-889-0926.
