"Board Certified - Criminal Law Texas Board of Legal Specialization"

Texas DWI Facts & Information:

The Law Offices of Ward Maedgen, is an experienced and knowledgeable DWI / DUI / BUI defense attorney. If you have been arrested for or charged with a DWI / DUI / BUI in the Dallas Texas area, we will fight vigorously for your rights. Ward Maedgen is a dedicated and accomplished DWI / DUI defense lawyer and is here to help you. Contact him today.
 

Facts and Questions regarding a Dallas criminal defense attorney for a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) or a DUI (Driving Under The Influence) and what is involved in the criminal court process:

Facts & Questions Regarding DWI Law in The State of Texas

When should I hire a criminal defense attorney experienced in DWI?

Immediately. Texas law requires that a request for a hearing to keep your license must be made within 15 days from the date of your DWI arrest. If you fail to hire an attorney, and a hearing is not requested, you waive the opportunity to fight the license suspension. In short, the sooner you act the better chance I will have in providing the best criminal DWI defense you need.

I was arrested for DWI in Texas. Is my license automatically suspended?

No. However, if you refused to provide a sample of your breath or blood, or if you provided a sample and they say it had an alcohol concentration of .08 or greater, and a hearing is not requested to fight the DWI suspension, it will be suspended.

Is there any benefit in requesting an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) Hearing?

Yes. We have been very successful in keeping a large percentage of our Texas clients from ever having their license suspended. Further, it is the first and probably only opportunity to cross-examine the police officer and get his "version" on record, which may help in any subsequent trial before the officer is coached by the prosecutor.

If my license is suspended for a DWI, can I get a license to drive to work?

In almost every case, yes. Depending on your criminal and driving record, we can often obtain for you an Occupational Driver’s License that will allow you to drive to and from work or during specific hours of the day. You may also be allowed to drive between locations, if your job requires you to travel as part of your duties.

I received a DWI in Texas and I have never been in trouble before. Am I going to jail?

Probably not. All cases are different. The specific facts of your case must be reviewed. However, in most case I can successfully fight to keep you out of jail.

Are you familiar with defending Texas DWI cases?

My firm defends Intoxication and Texas DWI cases on a regular basis. Texas DWI laws and techniques in defending Texas DWI are constantly changing, and therefore I stay on top of all changes to Texas DWI laws. As DWI laws change so do the best techniques to handle each DWI case. It is important to find a lawyer who stays on top of the current Texas DWI laws, trends, and what occurs in Courts everyday. At my firm your case will be treated individually and not just a part of a volume DWI traffic only firm. It is also important to find out if your attorney is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in order to give you a sense if the lawyer has tried many cases, kept up with the law, and experienced the Courtroom.

Are you knowledgeable of the proper administration of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests?

Yes. I have practiced both as a criminal defense attorney handling Texas DWI cases, as well as a DWI prosecutor dealing with officers using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) standardized field sobriety tests. This allows me to better evaluate how you did on the tests, and more importantly, evaluate how the police officer administered them. This is important because most DWI prosecutions involve results of "field sobriety tests," some of which have been the subject of scientific studies conducted by the NHTSA.

Are you familiar with the breath test machine, the Intoxilyzer 5000, used in Texas?

Yes. A failed breath test in no way means you are guilty, as any experienced Texas DWI defense attorney will tell you. I understand how the breath test machine works, what can cause you to submit an erroneously high reading, the philosophy behind breath testing, and how alcohol is absorbed and eliminated from the body. I also utilize, under the right DWI circumstances, experts in the field of Toxicology who are often instrumental in explaining to a jury through scientific evidence that a breath test may be erroneous.

Can you get my DWI case dismissed?

An ethical lawyer would never promise to get your DWI case dismissed. That being said, I will fight to have your case dismissed so that your record can be kept clean and your life can continue without the negative effects of a DWI conviction.

DWI Facts | DWI Arrest | License Suspension ALR Hearing |

As you can see, what looks simple gets pretty complex. As your criminal defense attorney I will insist that all information be provided and that you and I walk through all this information as we discuss and proceed on your case. Call us today for a Free Consultation.