Collin County DWI Dismissal and DWI Reduction

The most common question I get from my clients is, "can you get my DWI dismissed?"

The answer is, possibly. There is no magic formula to obtain a DWI dismissal in Collin County, Texas. As a DWI Defense Lawyer for over 12 years, I am proud to say that many of my clients' Collin County, DWI cases has been dismissed.

DWI dismissals happen for a variety of reasons. The prosecution may have an evidence or witness issue. There may be a legal barrier to prosecution or some civil rights or Constitutional violation that prohibits prosecution or prohibits the prosecution from admitting certain evidence.

An important factor to keep in mind regarding DWI dismissals is that the prosecution rarely acknowledges problems with a DWI case unless and until those problems are discovered and pointed out by a skilled DWI defense attorney.

While I cannot promise a dismissal in any DWI case in Collin County, Texas, I do have experience to discover and point out any issue with your DWI case that would warrant a dismissal.

The second most common question I get from clients is, "can you get my DWI reduced?"

This question is much easier to answer. I successfully obtain DWI reductions for my client on weekly bases. A DWI reduction mean that the DWI charge is reduced to another offense (which is usually Obstruction of a Highway), is reduced from a Felony to a misdemeanor or is reduced from a class A misdemeanor to a class B misdemeanor.

Reducing a Felony DWI to a Misdemeanor DWI

I have successfully negotiated reductions from a felony DWI to a misdemeanor DWI for many clients. This type of reduction is very tricky and takes a skilled DWI trial lawyer. The benefits of reducing a felony DWI to a misdemeanor DWI are obvious. First, there is no felony conviction. Second, the probation term for a misdemeanor DWI is much less than a Felony DWI. Finally, if your felony DWI is reduced to a misdemeanor DWI there IS NO chance you will ever go to prison even if you violate the terms and conditions of your probation

Reducing a DWI to an Obstruction of a Highway

A skilled DWI trial lawyer may be able to obtain a reduction a client's DWI charge to what is known as an "Obstruction of a Highway" charge. The benefit to the client is that there is no conviction for a DWI. Instead, the prosecution will "change" the criminal charge. Reducing a DWI to an Obstruction of a Highway not only prevents a permanent DWI conviction for a client it also saves that client thousand of dollars in surcharges, fines, fee, increases in insurance rates, etc. In addition, reducing a DWI to an Obstruction of a Highway prevents certain clients from losing employment, employment opportunities, and educational opportunities.

Reducing a Class A DWI to a Class B DWI

This is the most common way clients' DWI cases are reduced. My office successfully negotiate reductions from class A DWI to class B DWI on a weekly basis. To better understand the benefits of having your DWI reduced from a class A DWI to a class B DWI you must first understand the punishment difference between a class A DWI and a class B DWI.

The potential punishment for a Class A DWI in Texas is:

• A fine up to $4,000
• A jail term up to 1 year in jail
• Probation up to 2 years (instead of jail)
• *** Typical probation terms for a class A DWI is between 18 to 24 months. ***
• $5,000 to $10,000 in probation fees
• A requirement that an ignition interlock device be placed on any vehicle you drive for the term of probation
• $6,000 in DPS surcharges to keep your drivers license
• A conviction for a class A DWI is a PERMANENT CONVICTION on your record.

The potential punishment for a Class B DWI in Texas is:

• A fine up to $2,000
• A jail term up to 180 days in jail
• Probation up to 2 years (instead of jail)
• ***Typical probation terms for a class B DWI is 9 to 15 months***
• $2,000 to $5,000 in probation fees
• NO ignition interlock requirement
• $3,000 in DPS surcharges to keep your drivers license
• AND a conviction for a class B DWI MAY NOT BE a permanent conviction

As you can see from, reducing a class A DWI to a class B DWI can save you time, money and may give you the ability to clear your record of your DWI arrest and conviction. I have successfully negotiated hundreds of reductions of class A DWIs for my clients.

Jail as an Alternative to Probation

As you can see from above, probation is expensive and time consuming. Most of my clients are good people and do not need a probation officer controlling their lives for 9 to 24 months. As such, many of my clients choose a very short jail term instead of probation for the DWI charge.

My clients that choose a jail term instead of probation typically spend a MATTER OF HOURS not days in jail as punishment for a DWI conviction. Choosing this option helps the client by:

• Resolving their DWI much quicker than probation
• Saves my clients up to $10,000 in probation fees
• NOT requiring my client to have an ignition interlock device on their vehicle
• NOT having your live controlled by a probation officer
• Allows clients to potentially clear their record of the DWI arrest and conviction sooner that probation.

For more information on how we may be able to reduce your DWI or get your DWI dismissed call or office at: 469-619-3800