A Grand Prairie DWI Can Eat Your Wallet
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Facing DWI Charges in Grand Prairie and Worried?
While being charged with a DWI is no fun whatsoever, it's not the end of the world. Don't worry, we're here to help.
DWI stands for driving while intoxicated. You might have also heard of it as a DUI or driving under the influence. In the state of Texas, it's when someone operates a car, truck, etc. with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher.
At Michael & Associates, we know that the Dallas County courts and the state take these charges seriously and are ready to drop the hammer on our clients. That's why we put up the best defense in town.
The Penalties for DWIs in Grand Prairie Can Be Severe
Many of our clients are shocked to find out that Grand Prairie has lots of DWI cases. You might be, but try to think of someone in your life that has at least had to go to court for one. You probably thought of someone.
Just because they're common, though, doesn't mean they're any less serious.
Here are the possible penalties for DWI convictions:
1st DWI Offense:
- Up to a $2000 fine by the county
- Between 3 and 180 days in jail
- Loss of driver's license for up to a year
2nd DWI Offense:
- Up to a $2000 fine by the county
- Between 1 and 12 months in jail
- Loss of driver's license for up to two years
3rd+ DWI Offense:
- Up to a $10,000 fine by the county
- Between 2 and 10 years in prison
- Loss of driver's license for up to two years
- A Felony on your record
This doesn't even touch the serious enhanced charges that driving with a minor in the car brings.
Put Up a Fight - Get a Defense Team
Have you ever heard of how difficult it is for felons to assimilate back into society after prison? There's a big stigma in the work place for people with felony convictions even when no one was harmed in the process. Third time offenders face this threat. Even first time offenders face long-term license suspension.
Don't give up without a fight.
Never try to tackle your DWI charge on your own. Get a strong legal defense team brought in to fight for you in court.
Michael & Associates Will Fight on Your Behalf
Michael & Associates has been around the block. Nearly ten years of fighting DWIs in Texas means we know what we're doing.
Not only do we have the years of experience, we also have the win record. The majority of our clients see their charges reduced or the case dismissed completely. Few other firms in town can offer that.
In addition to our great win record, we also offer some of the best service you can find at a law firm. We take pride in it. Our managing partner, Ben Michael, himself will be at your beck and call, because every client's case is treated as if it were his own.
The other firms in town might have cheaper initial price tags, but they usually under-perform when it comes to your court date leading to even higher penalty fees. Don't settle for less.
If you want to schedule a free case review with Michael & Asocciates, simply fill out the contact form on this page. We'll be in touch shortly.
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, Third Offense
Allegations: Client was pulled over for driving while intoxicated after leaving their favorite bar. She refused to take any sobriety tests and was looking at a license suspension.
Result: Case Dismissed
Charges Reduced
Charge: Driving While Intoxicated
Allegations: Client was pulled over with their teenage son in the car after driving home from a friend's birthday party. He refused to take the breathalyzer test.
Result: Charges Reduced
Case Dismissed
Charge: Driving Under the Influence
Allegations: Client arrested after nodding off at a stop light. She failed the field sobriety test.
Result: Case Dismissed
How a DWI Conviction Affects Auto Insurance Rates
In Grand Prairie, the average annual cost of car insurance is $840. For drivers with DWI convictions, the average annual cost of auto insurance is $1,210, an increase of $370.
Breakdown by Gender
| Without DWI Conviction | $852 | $816 |
| With DWI Conviction | $1,227 | $1,175 |
| Increase | $375 | $359 |
Breakdown by Age
| Without DWI Conviction | $1,392 | $780 | $720 | $690 | $660 | $648 |
| With DWI Conviction | $2,004 | $1,123 | $1,037 | $994 | $950 | $933 |
| Increase | $612 | $343 | $317 | $304 | $290 | $285 |
Don't Let a DWI Increase your Insurance Cost
Frequently Asked Questions
About Michael & Associates
Most firms in Dallas County want to maximize their profits. They care less about your case outcome and more about their paychecks.
They earn this money by offering you low prices for hiring them compared to some other firms. During the initial case reviews, they'll promise the world to you - you can get your case dismissed for the lowest price in town. However, when your court date approaches, your calls are taken by an office manager who doesn't remember you while you wait days to hear back from a lawyer who's clearly checked out of the case.
When the verdict is reached, you find out you're going to have to pay more in the long run due to their lack of care. It doesn't matter to them as you're simply a number to them.
At Michael & Associates, we take only a limited number of clients at a time, so we can properly attend to all of their needs while building a winning defense. We don't simply offer the best client care in Grand Prairie, we take pride in it. Our managing partner, Ben Michael, gives every client his personal cell phone number. This means you can text him at 5PM or 5AM with any questions you may have about the case.
We don't just offer great service, we also offer the best results in the court room. You'll either have your case dismissed or your charges reduced, saving you thousands and keeping you out of jail.
How do we do it? We're experienced. We've been practicing law for just about ten years throughout the entire state with a particular focus on DWI cases. The majority of our cases are wins. Let Michael & Associates help you win.
Michael & Associates handles nearly all types of felony and misdemeanor criminal cases in the state, including these:
- DUI / DWI
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Assault & Battery
- Family Violence
- Domestic Abuse
Our firm is unable to handle these cases at the moment:
- Traffic Law
- Family Law
- Immigration Law
- Civil Law
Driving While Intoxicated in Grand Prairie
The legal limit for driving in Grand Prairie, Dallas County, and the state of Texas is a 0.08% blood alcohol content (BAC) percentage or higher. To receive DWI charges, your blood must be composed of at least 0.08% alcohol.
How many drinks is too many? How do you know you're at the legal limit? There is no correct answer to these questions as it depends on too many factors (size, alcohol tolerance, time passed between drinks, etc.) to be certain.
In Grand Prairie, the penalties are dependent on the circumstances of your arrest and the number of previous convictions you've had.
Your First Conviction:
- You may face a $2,000 fine
- You may face 180 days in jail upon conviction with three being mandatory
- You may have your driver's license suspended for up to a year
Your Second Conviction:
- You may face a $4,000 fine
- You may face a year in jail
- You may have your driver's license suspended for up to two years
Your Third and Up Conviction:
- You may face a $10,000 fine
- You may face ten years in prison
- You may have your driver's license suspended for up to two years
Additional enhanced charges may apply in some situations, e.g. driving with a child. You could face further penalties including an additional $10,000 in fines, two years in jail, and another two years without your license.
If you're being pulled over by the police for any possible crime or violation, even a simple taillight being out, pull over somewhere safe as soon as you can. You may be tempted to try and outrun them, but this would only lead to worse consequences for you.
When dealing with the police, remember two things: 1) it pays on your court date for you to act as polite as you possibly can, especially because many police film their interactions nowadays, and 2) you have the right to remain silent to avoid hurting your chances in court; wait for your lawyer before answering any non-essential questions.
The officer who pulled you over will come to your vehicle and ask you some questions. The first question is invariably to see your license, registration, and proof of insurance. Inform him or her of their location, then carefully take them out. Do not make any sudden movements as it may make the officer feel threatened.
The second question you're likely to be asked is if you know why you were pulled over. Reply with "no, ma'am" or "no, sir." They're trying to get you to admit to wrongdoing. Don't incriminate yourself.
If you're suspected of drunk driving, e.g. you were swerving or disobeyed a major traffic rule, then you may be given a breathalyzer test or asked to do a field sobriety one. You can refuse both of these until you get in contact with your lawyer. If the police truly think you're drunk and have a reason to believe so due to smell, sight, sound, etc., then you might be arrested.
If you're placed under arrest, it's not the end of the world. Remember that your lawyer exists to help you in cases like these.
At the station, you'll likely be asked to take a blood or breathalyzer test. This is where things start to get tricky: taking then failing the test results in a license suspension in most cases, but refusing to take the test at all often ends up the same. If the police are quite persistent that night, they might even be able to obtain a warrant to compel you to take one of the sobriety tests.
No matter what happens, contact your lawyer at your first chance. This will give her or him more time to formulate a defense strategy to best help you on your court date.
You definitely should put an effort into fight your DWI charges. The simple matter is that one mistake shouldn't cost you thousands in fines or put you behind bars, even if you feel embarrassed about what happened. Get a good lawyer to help you put up a strong fight.
Helpful Locations for Grand Prairie Residents
Grand Prairie Courthouse
(972) 237-8600
200 W Main St
Grand Prairie, TX 75050
gptx.org
Grand Prairie Police Department
(972) 237-8790
1525 Arkansas Ln
Grand Prairie, TX 75052
grandprairiepolice.org
Alcohol Treatment Facility
(972) 660-5278
921 W Pioneer Pkwy
Grand Prairie, TX 75051
fortworthaa.org
Department of Motor Vehicles
(972) 343-2520
701 N Bagdad Rd
Grand Prairie, TX 75050
dps.texas.gov