The Plano, TX DWI / DUI Lawyer Who Fights For Your Future
Charged with driving under the influence in Plano? Talk to an attorney who can help.
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A DWI Conviction in Plano is Costly. Let Us Help.
Between the financial burden and possible jail or prison time that comes with a DWI conviction, this can be one of the most difficult times in a person’s life. If your court date goes wrong, you can face an entire list of penalties in their harshest amounts.
Who gets charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)? Anyone who operates a vehicle or, at times, intends to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher.
Surprisingly, it is one of the most common criminal charges for Planoites and other residents of Collin County. Unsurprisingly, judges and other officials treat offenders harshly for this conviction. Driving while drunk can be quite dangerous and some people have personally experienced severe injury or the loss of a loved one due to its consequences.
The courts of Collin County and the state of Texas might come at you with their full strength, but Michael & Associates can be your shield. We’re the best legal defense in town for DWIs.
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Don’t Throw Away Your Savings and Your Future
If this is your first time dealing with a DWI, you might not be aware of how serious both the state and county take it. You face high fees, suspension of your driver’s license, and possible jail time in Plano. For a list of possible DWI penalties, see the list below:
Someone’s 1st offense:
- They might have to pay up to $2,000
- They can spend anywhere from three to 180 days in jail
- They might lose their driver’s license for a year
Someone’s 2nd offense:
- They might have to pay up to $4,000
- They might serve one to 12 months in jail
- They might lose their driver’s license for up to two years
Someone’s 3rd+ offense:
- They might have to pay up to $10,000
- They might go to prison for three to 10 years
- They might lose their driver’s license for up to two years
- They might have a felony on their criminal record
As if these penalties weren’t severe enough, Planoites caught with a minor in their car while driving drunk can face serious enhanced charges.
Lawyer Up to Protect Your Future
If you are convicted of a DWI, you could stand to lose more than just the money from fees and your freedom with jail time.
You can be punished by your car insurance company with higher rates or lose your license entirely. If you get convicted for the third time and receive the felony charge, you will have a harder time voting and finding work.
If you value your future whatsoever, you’ll get a competent attorney with a history of winning DWI cases in the area. You’ll need someone experienced and effective to avoid facing the full force of the law.
Trust Michael & Associates to Defend You
If you want a legal defense team with nearly ten years of experience and an impressive track record, Michael & Associates is your best choice.
We’ve fought hundreds of cases throughout Texas, and we’re proud to say that our win rate is high. Most of our clients either have their charges reduced or have their cases dismissed entirely.
Not only are we an effective bunch, but we love working in the Hot Air Balloon Capital of Texas. Our clients in Plano get the white-glove treatment. We treat each case as if it were our own, so you know you’ll get the best results possible.
Other larger, cheaper firms just don’t have the resources we do. They overbook themselves and burn out handling as many cases as possible. Even the best attorneys can fail to deliver the best results when they’ve been stretched too thin. With us, you get full access to our managing partner, Ben Michael. He walks you through the entire process and makes sure you’re always as comfortable as possible.
If you’re facing a DWI charge in Plano, count on Michael & Associates. Fill out the contact form on this page to schedule a free review. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible with a legal defense strategy that’ll truly help you out.
Frequently Asked Questions about DWI in Plano
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 at any time of the day to his clients. At other firms, you’re lucky if you can leave a message and get a callback the next day. Usually, it takes days.
Ben Michael is there to guide you through the entire process, from start to finish. We understand that our clients are facing one of the most difficult 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 Texas county. We are accepting new clients across the state, in all major metropolitan areas, including Collin County and the entire Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Just like any other city in Texas, when you are stopped in Plano, or anywhere else in Collin 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 requires to be at or above .08% is different for everyone. Your height, weight, and sex are all contributors. It mostly relies on how long it has been since you took a sip of alcohol.
In Plano, 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 be able to 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.