DWI in Atascosa

 Posted on April 15, 2019 in DWI

Have you been charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) in Atascosa County? Wondering what to do next? There are some important things to know and expect when facing a DWI charge in Atascosa County.

Consequences of a DWI

Punishment for misdemeanor DWI cases can be severe, and they can include jail time, fines and a license suspension.

DWI 1st Conviction: 0-180 Days in Jail and/or a fine up to $2,000.

DWI 2nd Conviction: 0-365 Days in Jail and/or a fine up to $4,000.

Up to 2 years of probation is available for DWI convictions, but there can be many cumbersome terms and conditions which you might have to abide by and perform. These might include community service hours, having to install an interlock ignition device on your vehicle, being drug tested regularly, taking various classes and even possible jail time.

BRCK Criminal Defense Attorneys Law has attorneys very familiar with DWI cases and can fight to reduce these conditions or even have the charges dropped.

The Timeline

DWI cases may take some time to work their way through the court system. Shortly after an arrest, the case, police report and all the information about your incident will be forwarded to the Atascosa County Attorney’s Office. The case will then be examined by local prosecutors and a decision to file the case will be made. There are no rigid time requirements on how long this should take, except that it must be done within 2 years from the date of the alleged offense. However, you can expect that the case will be filed much quicker than this, usually within a couple months.

Once a DWI case is filed, your attorneys will receive a letter informing you of your first court appearance. You will likely need to go to court multiple times while your defense team is working on your case. This court process could take months, and if your case ends up needing to go to trial, it could take up to a year or possibly longer depending on the court's calendar and availability.

What Should I Do Now?

During the time between being released from jail and your first court date, there are a couple of things you should do. The first is to immediately make an appointment with a local criminal defense lawyer for a legal consultation which will inform you of what to expect, what to do next, and will help you begin preparing your defense. Driver’s License suspensions can occur quickly so the sooner you begin the better.

Second, you should make sure that your personal information on file with the County Court at Law is correct. When you were released from jail, you gave some basic contact information about yourself, like your address, phone number, etc. If any of this information was wrong or has changed, you must let the County Court at Law know. Failure to keep your information accurate and updated could result in missing your court date and having a warrant issued for your arrest.

Court

When you find out when your court date is, make preparations to be there all day. Dress appropriately and be prepared to silence your phones. County Court at Law is generally held in the new Atascosa County Justice Center, which is located at 1405 Campbell Avenue, Jourdanton, Texas 78026. Note that Atascosa County Court is no longer held at the old courthouse and has moved to the new building adjacent to it. Court begins at 9:00 a.m., so plan to be there at 8:30 to give yourself plenty of time to find parking and get to the proper court room.

Going through this process can be intimidating and complicated. The punishment can be severe. Hiring a strong legal team to defend you in court is essential. BRCK Criminal Defense Attorneys law is experienced and can provide the legal expertise to fight for your rights and defend you successfully. Our team has substantial experience dealing with DWI cases in Atascosa and throughout Texas. We’re proud to have former Atascosa and Bexar County DWI prosecutors on our staff to provide you with personal, top of the line legal services.