San Antonio DWI Defense Attorney
In the state of Texas, conviction on drunken driving charges typically results in heavy fines, jail time, and the suspension or loss of your driver's license. Additionally, due to liability concerns, most employers have instituted policies that require the termination of any employee convicted of a felony while insurance companies will automatically increase - if not terminate - your insurance coverage. Not only could you lose your current job but a DWI conviction could prevent you from being hired for other kinds of work as well. In order to avoid financial and legal complications associated with a DWI arrest and conviction, it's essential that you understand both what is involved in processing your arrest and the options available to you. The Law Office of Collis White evaluates the nature of your arrest, what an officer did or failed to do, and whether there are grounds for challenging the validity of the arrest and the evidence involved.
Don't lose your license or go to jail because you failed to adequately prepare for your administrative law hearing and trial -- contact DWI defense lawyer Collis White today.
Shouldn't I Plead Guilty if I failed the Breathalyzer or Blood Test?
Absolutely not -- breathalyzers and blood tests are not fail safe. Breathalyzers work on the principle that the amount of alcohol absorbed by the body will be present in the blood that circulates through the lungs. However, air taken from deep within the lungs will likely have a higher alcohol concentration than air taken from higher up in the respiratory tract. As such, if an officer told you, "take a deep breath and blow as hard as you can into the breathalyzer," he could have artificially inflated the results. Additionally, unless a breathalyzer is adequately maintained, it may not have been properly calibrated when used in your arrest.
Blood tests are likewise subject to several problems. First, blood tests must be administered by a properly authorized and licensed person. Secondly, an approved kit must be used. Next, collection of the sample must be performed in a certain way. If there is too much preservative in the vacuum tube, if it is rotated incorrectly, or if an alcohol swab is involved, samples can be tainted.
Challenging the Evidence in DWI / DUI Arrests
As a DWI defense lawyer, Mr. White consults police experts, forensic specialists, and lab technicians in challenging the charges against his clients when evaluating the following:
- Breathalyzer maintenance record
- Dashboard video of police conduct
- Accuracy of the administration of the field sobriety test
- Handling of blood sample or other evidence
- Constitutionality of car stop - was reasonable suspicion evident?
- Instructions of arresting officer to suspect in car
Minimizing the Impact of a DWI Conviction
Depending on the circumstances of your case, it may be in your best interest to plead "guilty" to a DWI charge. As your attorney, Mr. White negotiates with prosecutors in order to explore alternatives to license suspension, maximum jail sentences and expensive fines. Even if you have already been convicted of DWI in the past and are facing mandatory jail time and the loss of your license, Mr. White may be able to reduce the sentence or charges against you.
Avoid legal complications that could impact your life and pocket book for years to come -- contact DWI / DUI defense attorney Collis White today.
