San Antonio DWI Attorney Fights Drunk Driving Charges

Determined Texas DUI defense lawyer protects your freedom and your driver license

If you have been arrested for a DWI in the San Antonio area, it is important to contact an experienced lawyer immediately. Tylden Shaeffer, Attorney at Law, P.C. is eminently qualified to help you fight charges of driving while intoxicated. Failing to act quickly could jeopardize your ability to oppose a license suspension or prepare a solid defense for trial. You have only 15 days from the date of your arrest to start these critical aspects of your defense. If you have a commercial driver license, your defense is even more important because you could lose your ability to make a living. Don’t treat a DWI like a common traffic ticket. Put a board-certified criminal law specialist in your corner who will aggressively pursue the best possible outcome in your case.

Experienced DWI defense counselor advises on potential penalties

In Texas, a person whose blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.08 percent or above is considered legally intoxicated. But if you are a commercial driver on the job, the legal limit is 0.04 percent, and drivers under the age of 21 can be cited for DWI with a BAC of only 0.02 percent. Even if your BAC is under the legal limit, you can still be convicted if you are visibly impaired.

I know what’s at stake when Texans are convicted of DWI and will work to provide a comprehensive defense that may challenge the legality of the stop as well as breath and blood test results, which can be flawed. Penalties for a standard DWI in Texas are as follows:

• First offense — Up to $2,000 fine and 72 hours to 180 days in jail
• Second offense — Up to $4,000 fine, 30 days to one year in jail, driver license suspension, mandatory jail time of up to 30 days as a condition of probation, breath test device installed in your vehicle(s), multiple courses and meetings related to alcohol and substance abuse, community service, and an annual surcharge of up to $1,500 for three years to keep your license.
• Third offense — Up to $4,000 fine, two to 10 years in state penitentiary, driver license suspension of up to two years, mandatory jail time of up to 180 days as a condition of probation, breath test device installed in your vehicle(s), and an annual surcharge of up to $2,000 for three years to keep your license.

Additionally, drivers accused of DWI can face enhancements for extreme DWI, for a BAC of 0.15 percent or greater, or for driving with a minor age 15 or under in the car. These escalating penalties make it critically important to fight your first and subsequent DWI case aggressively with a capable criminal defense attorney at your side.

Accomplished trial lawyer manages felony DWI charges

A third DWI charge in Texas is a felony offense, which can result in at least two years in state prison. But you can also face felony charges if you were driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and an accident occurred causing bodily injury or death to a person. You could be charged with:

• Intoxication assault — If you cause another person to suffer a significant risk of death, serious and permanent disfigurement, or damage that impairs function of a body part or organ, you can be convicted of a third-degree felony.
• Intoxication manslaughter — If you kill another person while operating a motor vehicle under the influence, you can be convicted of a second-degree felony.

These are serious charges that demand proven legal representation. After 30 years of practice as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney, I have the knowledge and the skills to fight for your best possible outcome.

Contact a skilled San Antonio DWI defense lawyer

A DWI arrest can damage your reputation, impose severe financial costs, and place you in jeopardy of incarceration. To pursue the best possible outcome, retain a proven defense lawyer as soon as possible. To schedule a free consultation with Tylden Shaeffer, Attorney at Law, P.C., call (210) 227-1500 or contact my San Antonio office online today.