The Mckinney, TX DWI / DUI Lawyer Who Fights Back

In Mckinney, Collin County, and the rest of Texas, the legal limit for intoxication is the same. Having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher when pulled over and tested means you're past the limit.

Remember that there is no real way to know how intoxicated you are. Some people can have a few drinks and be below the limit while others can only have one. It's better to wait it out or call an Uber than it is to wind up in jail, so try your best not to drive if you're not sure you're sober.

The penalties differ depending on the circumstances of your arrest and how many previous charges you've had. In Mckinney, they are:

For Your First Offense

• Up to a $2,000 fine payable to the Collin County court system
• Up to 180 jails upon conviction, with three mandatory days in jail
• Loss of driver's license for up to a year

For Your Second Offense

• Up to a $4,000 fine payable to the Collin County court system
• One month to a year in jail
• Loss of driver's license for up to two years

For Your Third Offense

• A $10,000 fine payable to the Collin County court system
• Two to ten years in prison
• Loss of driver's license up to two years

If you were caught breaking any other laws at the time of your arrest, you can face further enhanced charges. If caught with a child, for example, you will face:

• Additional fines up to $10,000
• Up to two years in jail
• Additional 180 days of driver's license suspension

If you see the squad car lights behind you, pull over somewhere as safely and quickly as you can. Never ever try to run away from the police. At best, you'll face much more severe charges and at worst, you or someone else will end up dead.

Before interacting with the officer directly, remind yourself of two important things. The first is to keep quiet; police are looking for reasons to arrest you and make your charges stick, so you should never volunteer information that'll hurt you in court. The second is, whether the officer is polite or rude themselves, you need to be on your best behavior; being courteous will help you on your court date, especially if you've been filmed.

The officer who pulled your car over will approach your driver side window and ask you to show him or her your license, registration, and proof of insurance. Don't try to make any jokes or charm your way out of this, just hand over the documents in a calm, slow manner after informing the officer of their location. The officer will likely ask you why you've been pulled over, and your reply should be "no, sir" or "no, ma'am" as you should remain silent even if you know why.

At this point, you may be asked to take either a field sobriety test or a breathalyzer. If you know you'll pass them, because you had one drink several hours ago or stayed sober the entire evening, go for it. If there's even a 1% chance you'll fail, you can politely reject the tests. Inform the officer that you would like to speak with your lawyer first before taking any tests.

If you seem visibly intoxicated, if you smell like wine or vodka, etc., you may be arrested anyway. Once at the police station, they'll likely want to establish your BAC by giving you a blood or breathalyzer test. You can refuse these, as well, but it will likely end up with your license being suspended. The same thing happens if you take them and fail, though. Use your own discretion and don't worry too much about what happens here as your lawyer will represent you in court to fight any suspensions.

If you've refused every test so far, an officer might try to obtain a warrant. This is a timely thing to do, so they might not.

No matter what happens, try to keep quiet and wait for your lawyer. Contact him or her as soon as you're able to.

No matter how many previous DUI or DWI charges you've had, it's in your best interest to fight. It's a strong possibility that the right lawyer can get your charges reduced if not dropped entirely. The answer is a definite yes.