Dallas Felony DWI Defense
Drunk Driving Can Be a Felony in Texas
In most cases, driving while intoxicated is punished as a misdemeanor criminal offense. Under certain circumstances, however, an arrest for drinking and driving may be charged as a felony.
The difference between a misdemeanor and a felony is not only the severity of the possible sentence. If you are convicted of a felony, you can lose your right to own a firearm and even to vote for several years, and you will have to live the rest of your life with the major stigma of being a convicted felon. When you have so much at stake, you cannot afford to take any chances with the outcome of your case.
Penalties for Felony DWI in Dallas
Third and Subsequent DWI Offense
The most common type of felony DWI occurs when an individual has been arrested
for a third or subsequent drunk driving offense.
Such an offense is charged as a felony of the third degree, and it carries a maximum sentence of:
- Between 2 and 10 years imprisonment
- Up to $10,000 in fines
- Driver's license suspension lasting as long as 2 years
In addition to the above, you will be ordered to pay for the installation and maintenance of an ignition interlock device (IID) in your vehicle. An IID is a piece of equipment that requires the driver to provide a breath sample before starting the ignition and that will immobilize the vehicle if it detects alcohol on the driver's breath.
DWI with Child Passenger
In the event that you were arrested for drinking and driving and had a child younger than the age of 15 riding with you in the vehicle, you can be charged with a state jail felony. The maximum sentence for DWI with a child passenger includes:
- Up to 2 years of imprisonment
- Up to $10,000 in fines
- Driver's license suspension lasting up to 180 days
Causing a Car Accident while Driving Drunk
Regardless of whether you have previously been convicted of DWI, you can be charged with a felony for causing a motor vehicle collision while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If the accident results in injury to another person, you may be charged with intoxication assault, a felony of the third degree which is punishable by between 2 and 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. If the accident kills another person, the offense is a felony of the second degree with a maximum sentence of $10,000 in fines and up to 20 years in prison.
Let a Felony DWI Attorney Fight for You!
As soon as possible after your arrest, contact us at the Mathur Law Offices, P.C., for a confidential case evaluation with a Dallas DWI attorney from our team. We know how much you stand to lose in this situation, and we want to provide you with the compassionate legal counsel and hard-hitting defense that you need. Let us put our skill and dedication to work for you!