An Arlington DWI Can Cost an Arm and a Leg.
We'll Save Your Reputation and Money.
Caught Driving While Intoxicated in Arlington?
Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) is a type of criminal charge for people caught driving drunk. The legal threshold for this charge is a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher.
Common wisdom says to never drive drunk. However, it is one of the more common crimes in Arlington and Tarrant County. Some people do it, because they think they're sober whereas others don't treat it as seriously as it should be treated.
DWI charges are no laughing matter. When you show up to your court date, the Travis County court system will not be your friend. They will see you as a possible public danger due to your actions.
This is why Michael & Associates exists. We want to help as many residents as possible in the American Dream City by getting their cases dismissed or charges dropped.
A DWI Will Destroy You Financially and Can Land You in Prison
As mentioned before, DWIs are common in Arlington, but neither the Texas government nor the Tarrant County court system will give you a slap on the wrist and send you home. Instead, you will be facing these possible penalties:
For Your 1st Offense:
- Up to a $2000 fine
- Between 3 and 180 days in jail
- Loss of driver's license for up to 12 months
For Your 2nd Offense:
- Up to a $2000 fine
- Between 1 and 12 months in jail
- Loss of driver's license for up to 24 months
For Your 3rd+ Offense:
- Up to a $10,000 fine
- Between 2 and 10 years in prison
- Loss of driver's license for up to 24 months
- A felony on your record
On top of all of this, you will be facing enhanced charges and a much more difficult case if you were caught driving drunk with a child in the car.
Never Give Up - Fight Your DWI
If you are hit with the full force of the law for your DWI conviction, you will be facing more than just legal penalties.
You will have to deal with further financial problems and social stigma. You will have a DWI on your driving record which can result in higher car insurance payments or the loss of your license. You will have a criminal record which will make it much harder to find a good job.
You made one mistake. You shouldn't throw your life away over it. Put up a fight. Hire a competent attorney with the years of experience and know how to get you the best outcome possible for your case even if it's your third or fourth charge.
Michael & Associates Is Your Strongest Ally
We at Michael & Associates have been around the block. We've been handling - and winning - DWI cases for almost a decade. We've handled cases for hundreds of clients over the years. The majority of these have resulted in case dismissal or a reduction in charges. We've saved our clients thousands and prevented them from spending time in jail.
Our main goal is to give each of our clients the full package. Not only will they get the best DWI defense in town, they will also be treated like royalty. Unlike the other firms in town, we don't take on every case that comes our way - we only take what we can handle while ensuring high quality services for our clients and a high percentage win rate.
Arlingtonites facing DWIs are in the best of care with Michael & Associates. Contact us for a free case review to find out what we can do to help you in these trying times.
GET A FREE CASE REVIEW
If you've been charged with a DWI, you have 15 days before you lose your license. Fill out the form below and we'll be in touch in a few minutes.
Recent DWI Cases
Case Dismissed
Charge: Driving While Intoxicated
Allegations: Police pulled client over, alleging that she was driving too slow at night. Client refused the initial tests and was taken into the station for a blood test. Client had a BAC of 0.09%.
Result: Case Dismissed.
Charges Reduced
Charge: Driving While Intoxicated, 2nd Offense
Allegations: Client made an illegal turn at an intersection. He was pulled over and refused a breathalyzer. He failed the field sobriety test and was taken into custody. This was the client's second offense.
Result: Case Pleaded Down to Traffic Violation
Case Dismissed
Charge: Driving Under the Influence
Allegations: Client arrested after failing to signal at a stop sign when making a turn. Police pulled her over and administered a breathalyzer test when she was slurring her speech. Her BAC was just above the legal limit.
Result: Case Dismissed
How a DWI Conviction Affects Auto Insurance Rates
In Arlington, the average annual cost of car insurance is $816. For drivers with DWI convictions, the average annual cost of auto insurance is $1,175, an increase of $359.
Breakdown by Gender
| Without DWI Conviction | $840 | $780 |
| With DWI Conviction | $1,210 | $1,123 |
| Increase | $370 | $343 |
Breakdown by Age
| Without DWI Conviction | $1,224 | $756 | $696 | $648 | $576 | $612 |
| With DWI Conviction | $1,763 | $1,089 | $1,002 | $933 | $829 | $881 |
| Increase | $539 | $333 | $306 | $285 | $253 | $269 |
Don't Let a DWI Increase your Insurance Cost
Frequently Asked Questions
About Michael & Associates
Michael & Associates is different from other firms for two big reasons: the way we treat our clients like family and how often we win. Other firms usually offer one or none of these things.
If you go to a random firm in Arlington or elsewhere in the county, you might find a slightly cheaper price tag, but you will end up paying more in other ways. Their legal teams are often overworked and unable to handle their clients' cases properly due to having too much on their plate.
At Michael & Associates, we only bite off as much as we can chew. To put it simply, we won't take a larger caseload than what we can handle while maintaining our high standard of customer service and our win rate. We've been in the DWI game for a long time, so we know the most effective defense strategies to win our clients the best possible outcome they can get.
If you work with us, you will have access to Ben Michael at any time of day or night via his personal cell phone number. This means you can ask him a question at 3AM if you're having problems sleeping due to the stress of your upcoming court date. He will kindly walk you through every step of the way and settle your troubled mind.
On top of that, we pride ourselves in providing our clients with the white glove treatment. We treat each individual like family and each case as if the outcomes were our own. Other firms, even those with equally competent lawyers, take on too much at once, so they just can't provide the level of personal care that we can at Michael & Associates.
Michael & Associates is afraid of no case. Ben and the rest of our team take on most misdemeanor and felony cases, including but not limited to:
- DUI / DWI
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Assault & Battery
- Family Violence
- Domestic Abuse
We do not handle these kinds of cases:
- Civil Law
- Immigration Law
- Family Law
- Traffic Law
If you're facing another type of misdemeanor or felony not on the list, you can contact us to see if we'll take your case.
Driving While Intoxicated in Arlington
Throughout all of Texas, including Arlington and the rest of Tarrant County, anyone who is caught operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08% or higher is considered to be driving while intoxicated (DWI).
If you're wondering what a BAC is, it's the percentage of your blood that is made up of alcohol at the time of the test. The tricky thing about BAC is that there is no formula for knowing what it will be without having it tested. One person can have a few beers and be within the legal limit if they're big enough whereas someone who's had a single shot might get put over the limit. The best advice for safe driving is to never do so unless you're 100% sure you're sober.
The penalties for a successful DWI conviction are harsh to discourage drunk driving as it can have deadly consequences. In Arlington, they are:
For Your First Offense:
- Up to $2,000 in fines
- Up to 180 jails at the discretion of the judge with at least three mandatory days behind bars
- Loss of driver's license for up to 365 days
For Your Second Offense:
- Up to $4,000 in fines
- One month to a year in jail depending on the judge's decision
- Loss of driver's license for up to two whole years
For Your Third Offense:
- A $10,000 fine each time
- Two to ten years in prison each time
- Loss of driver's license up to two years
Were you caught driving drunk with a minor in the car? You can face enhanced charges like:
- Additional fines all the way up to $10,000
- Up to two years in jail on top of the time assigned for the initial DWI
- Additional 180 days of driver's license suspension
This is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. The following paragraphs are some sound advice for what to do if you're facing a possible DWI charge. Remember that the best advice for avoiding a DWI is to never drive while intoxicated.
When you are dealing with the police in any matter, it is best to be polite and obey their requests within the scope of your legal rights. When refusing tests or telling an officer no, remain level-headed and respectful as you will likely be recorded on the officer's body cam or dash cam.
When pulling over, be sure to do so in an immediate yet safe manner. Never try to evade the police as they will likely catch you; you will face severe charges if you manage to get caught without injuring yourself, others, or being injured by the police.
The officer will request your license, registration, and proof of insurance. Inform him or her of their location and get their permission to retrieve them before moving slowly for your documents.
If you are asked why you were pulled over, simply reply with "no sir" or "no ma'am." Many officers will try to find reasons to arrest you or harm your chances in court. They need a justification for pulling you over. Do not give them one as it will make getting your case dismissed or charges reduced even harder.
You can refuse the initial field sobriety test as well as the breathalyzer when pulled over. The police may try to pressure you into taking one, but all you need to do is inform them you don't feel comfortable taking it without first speaking to your attorney.
At this point, if you have shown any clear signs of intoxication such as speaking in a slurred way, smelling like a bar, or having any other indicators of being drunk, you may be arrested and taken to the police station. Once there, they will likely ask you to do a breathalyzer or have your blood drawn. This is where things can get tricky: if you refuse, your license may be suspended, but if you agree and you fail the tests, your license may be suspended still. This is why it's important to contact your attorney as soon as possible.
If you refuse all of the tests and the officer is convinced you are intoxicated, he or she may obtain a warrant. This will take time which can help your case in some situations as your BAC may lower before the warrant can be obtained.
It is your right whether you're a citizen or not to refuse to answer any questions without an attorney present. Be sure to remain silent and only speak when absolutely necessary. Do not volunteer any information that may hurt your case and try to do as little talking as you can to avoid hurting your own case. Contact your lawyer as soon as you can.
Anyone with common sense will tell you yes. Even though DWI charges are daunting, you should never give up. If you fight them in court, especially with a competent legal team, you can possibly get the case dismissed or at the very least receive reduced charges. 3 days in jail is much better than 2 years.
Helpful Locations for Arlington Residents
Arlington Courthouse
(817) 459-6777
City Tower, 101 S Mesquite St
Arlington, TX 76010
arlingtontx.gov
Arlington Police Department
(817) 459-5700
620 W Division St
Arlington, TX 76011
arlingtonpd.org
Alcohol Treatment Facility
(817) 459-5700
620 W Division St
Arlington, TX 76011
myaddictionhelpline.com
Department of Motor Vehicles
(817) 285-1900
8301 Brentwood Stair Rd
Fort Worth, TX 76120
dps.texas.gov