Protect Your Driving Privileges After a DWI Arrest
In any DWI or DUI arrest in the state of Texas, there are two prongs of the case that need to be addressed. The first of these prongs is the Administrative Law Review, or ALR, where your driver's license will be automatically suspended if you refused to submit to a chemical test, provided a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or greater, you are a minor, or have a child passenger.
At your ALR hearing, you may challenge your license suspension and assist your situation in the second prong of your case, which is the criminal proceeding. As a DWI attorney, I, Bret Griffin, can represent you at your ALR hearing and your criminal proceeding in Galveston County. While it is not always possible to prevent a license suspension, you do have options and rights that should be protected.
In every case, a driver has only 15 days from the date the Notice of Suspension is served to request a hearing. If no hearing is requested, the suspension will automatically go into effect. For that reason, it is important to contact a lawyer as soon as possible after an arrest.
The Purpose of the Administrative Law Review Hearing
It is possible to overturn a license suspension at an Administrative Law Review hearing but it is not likely. A low standard of proof is used to uphold the suspended license and if the arresting officer shows up to the hearing, it is very difficult to emerge successful. Fortunately, this is not the only benefit of the ALR hearing and it is also a place where one can pursue information that may be used later on in the criminal proceeding. Furthermore, a loss at the ALR hearing can be appealed and overturned in some circumstances.
I approach ALR hearings with the goal of winning and returning to you the right to operate your vehicle as usual. questioning the arresting officer and gathering evidence that will allow me to build a more effective DWI defense for you. I will highlight parts of the stop and the arrest that show that my client was not intoxicated and try to get answers that can be referenced later on during the trial portion of the criminal case.
It is also possible to obtain an occupational driver's license, even if you are not able to overturn your suspended license. An occupational driver's license will enable you to drive to work or school while your criminal case is pending.
Due Diligence Today Can Improve Your Situation Tomorrow
In my practice, I believe in providing clients with a high level of criminal defense that protects their rights and diligently works to investigate cases in a timely and effective manner. Contact me, Bret Griffin, to learn more information about your rights and how I can help you.
Call my Houston, Texas, office toll free at 888-889-0926 to schedule a free initial consultation.
