Brownsville DWIs Can Be Quite Expensive
We're Here to Save You and Your Wallet
Facing DWI Charges in Brownsville and Stressed Out?
Wondering what a DWI is? Driving While Intoxicated is, in Brownsville and the rest of Texas, being caught operating a vehicle with your blood made up of at least 0.08% alcohol content.
No one finds the stress that accompanies a DWI charge fun. In fact, it's often one of the most hectic times in a person's life.
Our clients come to us for help, because the courts of Cameron County can be quite harsh on DWI offenders. They're often seen as a public danger while we at Michael & Associates know that sometimes people make mistakes. That's why we're here to provide aid.
DWIs Mean Possible Jail Time and Heavy Fines
Many people aren't aware of the severity of a full DWI charge. They might not have met anyone who has been charged or only met people who've had their charges reduced.
Here are the penalties for DWI convictions in the Chess Capital of Texas:
Your 1st Offense:
- Up to a $2000 fine from the Cameron County courts
- Between 3 and 180 days in jail
- Loss of driver's license for up to a year
Your 2nd Offense:
- Up to a $2000 fine from the Cameron County courts
- Between 1 and 12 months in jail
- Loss of driver's license for up to two years
Your 3rd+ Offense:
- Up to a $10,000 fine from the Cameron County courts
- Between 2 and 10 years in prison
- Loss of driver's license for up to two years
- A felony on your criminal record
Find Yourself a Lawyer and Fight Back
Some people go into a DWI case ready to throw in the towel. They know they made a mistake, and they think they deserve their punishment. However, jail time and fees aren't the only thing that can hit them. If you're facing a charge, you might find your insurance rates going up, loss of your license, or, if you have a felony on your record, a hard time finding employment at a decent place of work.
Don't give up on your future yet. If you have the right defense team, you can protect yourself and possibly even get your case dismissed entirely.
Michael & Associates Will Fight for You Like Family
At Michael & Associates, we fight for each of our clients as if they were our family members and their future depended on the outcome of the case. We provide a level of care both in and out of the courtroom that you won't find anywhere else in Brownsville.
We provide a VIP treatment to our clients. Ben Michael, our managing partner, will be at your command. His favorite part of working at his own firm is how hands-on he can get with each case and the people involved. He's not only here to defend you, but to put your mind at ease as well.
Besides wonderful service, you'll be getting the best outcome possible in your court case. We have been practicing law and fighting DUI cases in Texas for nearly ten years. Most of our clients have had their charges reduced or cases dismissed. We'll get you serious results.
To have Michael & Associates get started on your legal defense strategy, schedule a free case review with us by contacting us directly or filling out the form on this page.
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: Client was pulled over driving while intoxicated after swerving between lanes. The arresting officer forced the client to take a breathalyzer against his will.
Result: Case Dismissed
Charges Reduced
Charge: Driving While Intoxicated, 2nd Offense
Allegations: Client was pulled over and refused to take any tests due to fearing a second offense on her record. She was taken to the police station where a warrant compelled her to take a blood test.
Result: Charges Reduced
Case Dismissed
Charge: Driving Under the Influence
Allegations: Client failed a breathalyzer test after being caught sleeping in the driver's seat of her car in a parking lot to sober up.
Result: Case Dismissed
How a DWI Conviction Affects Auto Insurance Rates
In Brownsville, the average annual cost of car insurance is $768. For drivers with DWI convictions, the average annual cost of auto insurance is $1,106, an increase of $338.
Breakdown by Gender
| Without DWI Conviction | $780 | $720 |
| With DWI Conviction | $1,123 | $1,037 |
| Increase | $343 | $317 |
Breakdown by Age
| Without DWI Conviction | $1,140 | $792 | $600 | $570 | $540 | $684 |
| With DWI Conviction | $1,642 | $1,140 | $864 | $821 | $778 | $985 |
| Increase | $502 | $348 | $264 | $251 | $238 | $301 |
Don't Let a DWI Increase your Insurance Cost
Frequently Asked Questions
About Michael & Associates
Some people are happy at first with saving a little bit of money upfront. They go to a cheap lawyer who promises them the world. They go home satisfied with the money they saved, but when it comes to their court date, they have to fork over so much extra cash in penalties that even their wallets cry. Their cheap lawyer turned out to be a hard-to-reach dud.
At Michael & Associates, we take pride in providing VIP treatment to our clients while winning them the best possible outcome.
Why can we do it while the other firms can't? To put it simply, we have a limit to the number of cases we take while others treat their work like criminal case factories. We only take on as many clients as we can handle while still providing excellent, individualized care and having enough time to fight each case as if it were our own.
The best part of working with us is that you get access to the Michael of our namesake himself: Ben Michael. You get his personal cell phone number and can shoot him a text in the middle of the night if you feel like it. He'll answer any questions you throw at him, and he'll be there to guide you along the way throughout the entire process. His goal isn't just to win, he wants to also make you comfortable, because DWIs can be incredibly stressful.
Michael & Associates will represent Brownsvillians in the following case types and more:
- DUI / DWI
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Assault & Battery
- Family Violence
- Domestic Abuse
We do not currently take on:
- Traffic Law
- Family Law
- Immigration Law
- Civil Law
Driving While Intoxicated in Brownsville
There is no legal limit to the amount of drinks you can have before driving. Some people can have only one beer while others can down a few and still be under the legal limit. In Brownsville, Cameron County, and the entire state, you're legally over the limit if you have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of at least 0.08% or higher. This means that your blood is 0.08% or more alcohol when tested.
The best bet to avoiding a DWI is to simply find a designated driver or arrange a ride some other way.
In Brownsville, each additional conviction will result in harsher penalties.
First Conviction
- Up to a $2,000 fine
- Three mandatory days in jail with a maximum of 180 days
- Loss of driver's license for up to a year
Second Conviction
- Up to a $4,000 fine
- One month to a year in jail
- Loss of driver's license for up to two years
Third+ Conviction
- A $10,000 fine
- Two to ten years in prison
- Loss of driver's license up to two years
- A felony charge placed on your criminal record
Further enhanced charges apply if caught breaking another law such as driving with a child in the car, like:
- Additional fines up to $10,000
- Up to two years in jail
- Additional 180 days of driver's license suspension
If you've ever seen a movie or TV show with an arrest in it, you've likely heard the line read from the Miranda Rights that you have the right to remain silent. If you're facing a possible DWI charge in real life: exercise that right. Never answer questions unless you absolutely have to, e.g. when handing over your license and registration.
If you get pulled over and are worried about failing a sobriety test, keep two things in mind: 1) you should be on your best behavior as it will help you with dealing with the officer and, if it comes to it, on your court date, and 2) no matter what charges or penalties you're hit with, a lawyer can help you fight it, so contact them as soon as you possibly can.
If you see the flashing lights behind you or any other indication that you need to pull over, do so in a speedy yet safe manner. The officer who pulled you over will approach you and ask to see your documents. Let him or her know their location, then slowly retrieve them from your glovebox or other storage area.
At this point, you might be asked if you know why you were pulled over. Police do this to help build up a stronger case against the arrestee in court. Reply with a "no, sir" or "no, ma'am" if you want to have a stronger chance of winning.
You will be asked to take a breathalyzer or field sobriety test if suspected of being drunk. It's within your rights to refuse both of these tests. If you're suspected of truly being drunk and show signs of it, you might get arrested and hauled away to the police station. Once there, they will offer two more tests (blood and breathalyzer), but you can refuse these as well. Just be warned that doing so can result in your license being suspended. Taking the test and failing can result in the same, too.
If you've refused every test offered, an officer might go out of their way to get a warrant and compel you to take the test. It is mandatory at this point.
No matter what happens, remember to be polite and contact your lawyer as soon as possible.
The answer is yes, yes, yes. Fighting against a DWI charge isn't an easy task, but it's possible and can result in reduced charges or even a case dismissal with the right defense team.
Helpful Locations for Brownsville Residents
Brownsville Courthouse
(956) 548-7181
1034 E Levee St
Brownsville, TX 78520
brownsvilletx.gov
Brownsville Police Department
(956) 548-7000
600 E Jackson St
Brownsville, TX 78520
brownsvillepd.com
Alcohol Treatment Facility
(956) 253-1183
425 E Los Ebanos Blvd #108
Brownsville, TX 78520
outcomesdetox.com
Department of Motor Vehicles
(956) 983-1920
2901 Paredes Line Rd
Brownsville, TX 78526
dps.texas.gov