The Garland, TX DWI / DUI Lawyer That Means Business
Were you recently pulled over and charged with a DWI in Garland? Don't let the stress eat at you. Michael & Associates has been fighting DWIs in Texas for years.
What we’ll cover here
Get a Free Case Review
You only have a few days to request a license hearing before automatic suspension so get started today.
A DWI in Garland Can Be Devastating. Let Us Help You.
Due to the potential for a substantial number of penalties, a DWI charge can be one of the most stressful times in someone’s life.
Believe it or not, a DWI is actually a pretty common charge in Garland and the rest of Dallas County. To be charged with it, you have to meet the following criteria: 1) be operating a vehicle and 2) have a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or above.
As mentioned above, the penalties can be quite severe. You can be fined thousands of dollars or end up in a county jail. For repeat offenders, you can even be charged with a felony and find yourself in prison. Don’t fear, though. Michael & Associates has you covered.
Testimonials
Meet your Garland Defense Team
Possible Penalties for DWIs in Garland
Many people are sorely mistaken in thinking that a DWI is basically a slap on the wrist. Whether it’s your first or fifth offense, there are serious financial penalties and jail time.
Here are the penalties for DWI convictions in TX:
The 1st Offense:
- Possible $2,000 fine
- Between 3 and 180 days in jail
- Suspension of your driver’s license for up to a year
2nd Offense:
- Possible $4,000 fine
- Between 1 and 12 months in jail
- Suspension of your driver’s license for up to two years
3rd+ Offense:
- Possible $10,000 fine
- Between 2 and 10 years in prison
- Suspension of your driver’s license for up to two years
- A felony charge on your record that will hurt your chances of employment in the future
None of these penalties include the additional ones that come with enhanced charges. For example, DWI offenders with minors in their car will be hit the hardest.
Don’t Give Up Yet – Build Your Defense Team
When our clients come to us, they’re not just afraid of the penalties from the court, they’re afraid of the stigma that comes with a DWI. If you’re facing your third charge, you can be labeled as a felon – the working world isn’t very friendly to felons even if it’s a non-violent charge.
This is your future at stake. Do the smart thing and lawyer up. Find yourself the most competent, experienced lawyer you can.
Michael & Associates, Defense Lawyer in Garland
We’re not being arrogant when we say we have a strong reputation for success. We carry ourselves with pride, because we strive to get results we can be proud of. After practicing law and taking DWI cases for nearly a decade all over Texas, we have fought literally hundreds of cases. We have won most of them by either getting our clients charges dropped entirely or at the very least reduced.
Not only are we going aim to get you great results, we’ll make you feel like a king or a queen. Unlike the other firms in Garland who pass you off to an office manager or an intern, our managing partner will be there for you.
You get full access to your senior lawyer. He and the rest of us at Michael & Associates will cater to your every need to make sure this stressful time flies by in a breeze.
For a free consultation with Michael & Associates, fill out the contact form on the page.
Frequently Asked Questions about DWI/DUI in Garland
At Michael & Associates, we take pride in offering you the white-glove treatment and the best possible outcome.
There are so many lawyers in Texas who offer clients big promises but deliver scant results. These lawyers aren’t always worth what they charge. Do they give each case 100%? Usually, they don’t. They just try to close a case quickly so they can move on to an easier one.
Ben Michael has a different philosophy. We only take on the cases we can handle personally. By limiting our caseload, we can offer that white-glove treatment to each client.
We give our clients Ben’s direct number. He is available any time of the day to his clients. At other firms, you are lucky if you can leave a message and get a call back the next day. Usually, it takes days.
Ben Michael is there to see you through the entire process, from beginning to end. We know that our clients are facing one of the worst moments in their lives. At their lowest point, we can step in to help things get back on track. We fight for you.
Michael & Associates will accept felony and misdemeanor criminal cases of all types. We work on cases that include, but aren’t limited to, the following:
- DUI / DWI
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Assault & Battery
- Family Violence
- Domestic Abuse
We don’t practice:
- Traffic Law
- Family Law
- Immigration Law
- Civil Law
Our firm is licensed to practice law in every county in Texas. We are accepting new clients across the state, in all major metropolitan areas.
Just like any other city in Texas, when you are stopped in Garland (or anywhere else in Dallas County), anyone operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher can be charged with DWI. Your BAC is the number that represents the saturation level of alcohol in your system. Exactly how many drinks it takes to reach or exceed 0.08% varies from person to person. Your height, weight, and sex are all contributors. It mostly relies on how long it has been since you took a sip of alcohol.
It all comes down to whether or not you have any prior convictions.
First Offense
- A fine as high as $2,000
- Up to 6 months in jail, with 3 days mandatory
- Losing your license for a year
Second Offense
- A fine as high as $4,000
- From 30 to 365 days in jail
- Losing your license for as many as two years
Third Offense
- $10,000 fine
- 2 to 10 years in prison
- Losing your license for as many as two years
Additional penalties that might apply for having an underage passenger in the motor vehicle:
- Increased fines up to $10,000
- Up to two years in jail
- Six additional months of driver’s license suspension
The first thing you should keep in mind is that failure to stop for an officer will send you directly to prison. Do not run from the police. You will make things much worse for yourself, and you will not outrun them.
When the officer approaches the vehicle, make sure both of your hands are visible. The officer will ask for your paperwork and license. When you go to retrieve them, ask first and let the officer know where you are reaching. Always be as polite as possible.
The officer might also ask you if you know the reason they initiated the traffic stop. You should politely tell them you don’t know why you were stopped. They are looking to establish a reason for the stop, and use that probable cause in court. Don’t remove that line of defense from your lawyer’s arsenal.
Keep in mind that you are on bodycam, so always be as respectful as possible. However, you have the right to refuse to take breathalyzer and field sobriety tests. You will lose your license for a year if you refuse to take a breathalyzer, but if convicted of DWI you would lose the license anyway. Your lawyer can help you fight for a good outcome in either case.
If the officer who initiated the stop thinks they notice any slurred speech, alcohol on your breath, or bloodshot eyes, you might be detained for suspicion of DWI. Once arrested, police will ask you to submit to a breathalyzer or blood test. Refusal means suspension of your license.
Officers can (and will) get a warrant to draw blood, and force you to submit to the test, but obtaining the warrant will take some time. Once they’ve gotten the warrant, it’s in your best interest to let them draw the blood. Otherwise, they will do it by force, and it will not be pleasant.
Never answer questions without a lawyer present, and ask to have a conversation with your lawyer as soon as possible.
Yes. You should always put up a vigorous defense against a DWI charge. This situation requires you to mount a swift and robust defense. You need a tough lawyer by your side.