A DWI in Waco is a Serious Offense
Let Us Help You
Charged with a DWI in Waco?
Getting arrested for a DWI is a very stressful situation. We want to help put it in your rearview.
It's a common crime around Waco. People are pulled over all the time after one too many. It's still a serious crime, however. The Prosecutor will seek a strong sentence.
The state of Texas and the McClennan County court system isn't going to take it easy on anyone convicted of DWI. That's where Michael & Associates can help.
A DWI is Expensive and Stressful
It's easy to think that being arrested for DWI happens often, so the price may not be high.
You would be wrong. Very wrong.
Being arrested for DWI results in these sentences:
First Offense:
- As high as a $2000 fine
- From 3 to 180 days in jail
- Suspension of your driver's license for up to a year
Second Offense:
- As high as a $2000 fine
- Between one and twelve months in jail
- Suspension of your driver's license for up to two years
Third+ Offense:
- As high as a $10,000 fine
- From two to ten years in prison
- Suspension of your driver's license for up to two years
- Felony arrest record
The sentence enhancements for DWI manslaughter, child endangerment, or property damage are also steep.
One Error Shouldn't Ruin Your Life
your insurance rates will increase, your credit will be harmed and your social status can be damaged. These are just a few of the unseen prices people pay for an actual conviction. Don't let it happen to you.
This is a serious matter; you have to try to find the best lawyer you can.
Don't just wing it by yourself if you were arrested for DWI. Be sure you hire a competent, caring attorney who will give your case the attention required to fight for the best outcome.
Put Michael & Associates in Your Corner
The legal team at Michael & Associates has a long record of success. We have almost a decade of fighting and winning cases.
Our experience with DWI cases in and around Waco is vast, and we have gotten a majority of them dismissed or reduced.
We look to give our clients a high-touch, white-glove DWI defense. We treat each case as the most important case on the docket, and fight for you with a fierce loyalty that our clients often thank us for.
To us you are more than a client, you are family. You get to reach out to Ben Michael - our managing partner - any time you want to, and he will make the process smooth and easy for you each step of the way.
No one fights for you like Michael & Associates. Call us or content through the online for form to set up your no-cost case review.
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: Officers pulled over the client for failing to stop at an intersection. They were given a breath test and taken to the station for questioning.
Result: Case dismissed due to officer's using illegally obtained evidence.
Charges Reduced
Charge: Driving While Intoxicated, 2nd Offense
Allegations: The client was stopped for weaving in traffic and refused a breathalyzer. After a failed sobriety test they were arrested. This was their second arrest for DWI.
Result: Plea bargain for reckless driving
Case Dismissed
Charge: Driving Under the Influence
Allegations: The client was stopped for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle. They failed a breathalyzer and got arrested for DWI
Result: Full dismissal
How a DWI Conviction Affects Auto Insurance Rates
In Waco, the average annual cost of car insurance is $672. For drivers with DWI convictions, the average annual cost of auto insurance is $968, an increase of $296.
Breakdown by Gender
| Without DWI Conviction | $720 | $648 |
| With DWI Conviction | $1,037 | $933 |
| Increase | $317 | $285 |
Breakdown by Age
| Without DWI Conviction | $1,104 | $648 | $576 | $540 | $480 | $528 |
| With DWI Conviction | $1,590 | $933 | $829 | $778 | $691 | $760 |
| Increase | $486 | $285 | $253 | $238 | $211 | $232 |
Don't Let a DWI Increase your Insurance Cost
Frequently Asked Questions
About Michael & Associates
The thing that sets us apart is clear. It's our white glove treatment, and the best outcome possible.
Too many law firms out there talk a big game, but when the chips are down they are nowhere to be found. That's because they don't see their clients as people in trouble, they see them as part of a conveyor belt, running through the inevitable legal system and its outcomes.
Michael & Associates doesn't think that is right, and in fact, we know that you deserve better. You have the right to full representation by a lawyer who isn't distracted by the next case. That's why we only accept a few cases at a time.
We have such a light caseload that we can offer you Ben Michael's personal cell phone, and and you can reach out to him at any time. At the bloated, legacy firms, you are shuffled off to the back of the stack. Maybe they return your call, maybe not. That's how it goes at larger firms.
We think that is absurd. You are going through the most stressful days of your life. The last thing you need is the brush off from the lawyers you paid to work for YOU. We will walk you through the whole process and make sure you know what the plan is.
Michael & Associates accepts misdemeanor and felony cases of all types:
- DUI / DWI
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Assault & Battery
- Family Fights
- Domestic Abuse
We don't practice:
- Traffic Law
- Family Law
- Immigration Law
- Civil Law
Driving While Intoxicated in Waco
In Waco, McClennan County, and anywhere else in the state of Texas, a driver arrested at or above the legal limit of 0.08% or higher can be charged with DWI. Officers have very little discretion in the matter if there is a measurement at or above .08%.
Just how many drinks you need to be at a BAC of 0.08% depends on several things, including the strength of the drinks, the amount of time passed since you had the drinks in question, your sex, weight, and whether or not you have a tolerance to alcohol.
Penalties will depend on your prior convictions if you are arrested in Waco.
1st Offense
- Up to a $2,000 fine
- 3 mandatory days in jail, with as many as 6 months possible
- Suspension of driver's license for up to a year
2nd Offense
- Up to a $4,000 fine
- One month to a year in jail
- Suspension of driver's license for up to two years
3rd Offense
- A $10,000 fine
- Two to ten years in prison
- Suspension of driver's license up for as many as two years
Child endangerment enhancements factor in if you were arrested with a child in the vehicle.
- More fines, up to $10,000 more
- As many as two years in jail
- Additional 180 days of driver's license suspension
Never try to escape. The police will catch you, and you will face multiple felony charges for fleeing and eluding, as well as any damage you cause. It's not worth the gamble. You will not win.
The first thing the officers will do is try to establish probable cause by asking if you know what the reason was for the traffic stop. Always play dumb here. Be respectful, but never admit that you know the reason for a stop. You are not required to incriminate yourself, and that is all this question is about.
It's your legal right to refuse a test you think might incriminate you. Simply tell the officer that you aren't comfortable taking a roadside test, and prefer to wait until you speak with your lawyer. Just remember to be respectful and polite. If for no other reason, remember that you are on camera and your video will be admissible as evidence later, potentially played in open court.
Officers can still make an arrest if they see a reason. If they suspect odor, red eyes, or slurring speech, they might arrest you even without a field sobriety test. Once arrested, you will probably be asked to take a blood or breath test to establish BAC. Refusing the test after the arrest violates implied consent, and you will lose your license for a year. If you are found guilty, you were likely to lose your license anyway. Your lawyer can help you fight either situation.
Drawing blood is a possibility if you refuse, but those tests take some time to get a warrant for.
Never say anything that can incriminate you during interrogation, and ask to call your lawyer an attorney at the earliest opportunity.
Definitely fight this. Never plead guilty to a DWI arrest without trying to mount a defense. Be sure to find a lawyer and look for the best possible result that you can get for yourself.
Helpful Locations for Waco Residents
Waco Courthouse
(254) 750-5900
201 W Waco Dr
Waco, TX 76707
waco-texas.com
Waco Police Department
(254) 750-7500
3115 Pine Ave
Waco, TX 76708
waco-texas.com
Alcohol Treatment Facility
(888) 236-4567
3015 Herring Ave
Waco, TX 76708
cenikor.org
Department of Motor Vehicles
(254) 759-7121
1617 E Crest Dr
Waco, TX 76705
dps.texas.gov