Drinking and Driving Offenses

Chances are great that during the time it takes you to read through the content on this website, someone right now in the state of Texas is being either convicted or arrested for a drinking and driving offense. Driving while intoxicated offenses are so prevalent in our society they make up nearly one third of all criminal cases in our court systems.

The reasons are varied. Judges and politicians want to portray an image of being tough on crime. Municipalities revel in the windfall of excessive fines that come from each person accused of driving while intoxicated. Special Interest groups aggressively bend the ear of legislators in an effort to return our society back to the days of Prohibition.

Whatever the reasons, one of the frightening aspects of the legal environment in our culture today is that nobody is immune from being accused of committing a crime - especially driving while intoxicated. In fact, even the most nominal amounts of alcohol (just a few ounces) consumed over the course of several hours is enough to trigger a law enforcement officer to arrest you for suspicion of driving while intoxicated. If you are arrested - you will be prosecuted. District Attorneys throughout Texas (especially in North Texas) tenaciously prosecute individuals accused of driving while intoxicated.

If you've been accused, you need a criminal defense attorney with experience in DWI law and one who understands how to obtain a successful outcome given the specific facts of each case.

If you have already been arrested for driving while intoxicated - whether it is your first or if you've had multiple charges including felony driving while intoxicated - the Law Offices of Law Office of K.H. Haywood can help you achieve a successful outcome (Note: previous success stories including a not guilty jury verdict for a felony Driving While Intoxicated in Collin County).

We can help you with every frightening facet of this process:

• The License Review Hearing
• The Decision on Whether to Accept a Plea Offer or Proceed to Trial
• An Expunction of Your Arrest if You are Acquitted

We are passionate about fighting for those accused of drinking while driving because we see how it can negatively impact the lives of the individual and his or her career, family and lifestyle. We also see the way the court and judicial system has unfairly stacked the deck against those accused of this offense and we take immense pride in helping to level the playing field to achieve successful outcomes.

If you are ever stopped by law enforcement and they have probable cause that you have been drinking, you need to know the following:

• Remain Calm!
• Follow all traffic laws during your stop and while you are pulling over. It is important to know that as soon as the law enforcement officer turns on his or her patrol vehicle's lights, their video camera automatically begins to record. Thus creating evidence against you even before you stop your vehicle.
• Say as little as possible! The law enforcement officer's objective is to collect evidence to help his/her case against you. Remember you have the right to remain silent - don't be afraid to use it.
• Do not confess to anything - law enforcement officers often make the promise that if you just confess to something they will release you or make for easier court proceedings. Do not believe it.
• Do not commit to any road-side tests. If the law enforcement officer asks you to take a Field Sobriety Test (FST) respond to him/her by saying: "I am more than happy to cooperate as soon as I confer with my attorney and I can take whatever tests you desire me to take in the presence of my attorney."
  
  You do not have to submit to the FST. You are well within your right to have your attorney present when you take the test.