Dallas DWI Defense Attorneys

The Cochran Firm provides aggressive defense for clients in Dallas

In Texas, people who decide to drink and then drive are committing a serious criminal offense known as DWI (driving while intoxicated).  Additionally, people commit DWI whenever they use unlawful drugs or prescriptions that alter their coordination prior to driving, or drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher.

For more information about DWI arrests and all fecets of drunk driving defense, please visit our dedicated DWI defense website and schedule a consultation with one of our Dallas DWI lawyers.

DWI Traffic Stops

When law enforcement has reason to believe that a person is operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, they will perform a DWI traffic stop.  In order for law enforcement to perform this stop, they must have sufficient reasonable doubt that the driver is intoxicated.  For example, if the driver is engaging in erratic driving behaviors or seen stumbling out of a bar and then driving, law enforcement will have legitimate probable cause and can stop the driver.

Once law enforcement has pulled the driver over for suspected DWI, they will look for further signs of intoxication.  If they believe the person is intoxicated, they will ask the person to consent to a breath alcohol test. In Texas, people have the right to refuse breath tests, but will be subjected to enhanced legal penalties if they are convicted.  If the person consents to the test and is found to have a BAC of 0.08% or higher, he/she will be arrested for DWI.

Additionally, during the DWI traffic stop, the driver will be served with a notice of driver’s license suspension if he/she refuses the breath test or has a BAC of 0.08% or higher.  From the day the driver receives the notice, he/she will have 15 days time to schedule an Administrative License Revocation hearing (ALR hearing) with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.  Failure to schedule the hearing within 15 days will lead to the automatic suspension of the person’s license for a set period of time as determined by the DMV.

Dallas DWI Defense Attorneys

If you have been charged with driving while intoxicated in Texas, contact the skilled Dallas criminal defense lawyers at The Cochran Firm.