Unfortunately, for some people, what starts as a day trip or night out to Galveston ends with a DWI arrest. If this has happened to you, and it’s your second offense, please understand you’re in a serious situation. The penalties for a second-DWI conviction can be much more severe than a first offense. Yet, you don’t have to accept the charges and plead guilty; a Galveston DWI lawyer can fight for you.
Blass Law wants to help. Having a previous conviction doesn’t make you guilty again. Our criminal defense attorney can examine the charges you face, create a legal defense strategy, and work to protect your future.
What Sets Our Criminal Defense Law Firm Apart
Prosecutors view forensic data as their “ace in the hole” when it comes to convicting people on second-time DWI charges. These tests can include blood tests and the results of breathalyzer tests. However, these tests aren’t infallible, and that’s something our founder, Jay Blass Cohen, knows intimately.
That’s because he’s more than a lawyer; he’s a Lawyer Scientist, Drug Recognition Expert, and certified Standardized Field Sobriety Testing instructor and practitioner. This means, when he takes your case, he will determine whether:
- Law enforcement properly conducted forensic testing
- Such data is admissible
- Any extenuating factors that led to a false positive or a high reading
- The arresting police officer upheld your rights
- The police used coercion prior to testing
It doesn’t matter whether your DWI is for alcohol or a drug-related intoxication. Attorney Jay Blass Cohen has the scientific background and knowledge to recognize improperly conducted tests, malfunctioning breathalyzers, or lax procedure by arresting officers. This knowledge could make a huge difference in your case’s outcome. When your freedom is on the line, every potential advantage counts.
What Our Second-Offense DWI Lawyer Can Do for You in Galveston
When you have been arrested, your choice of attorney is incredibly important. Ideally, you want an attorney who has experience fighting and winning cases like yours. Yet, you also want a lawyer who is genuinely concerned for your well-being and will do everything they can to reach a positive outcome. Blass Law checks off these boxes. We aim for acquittals and dismissals with each case we take on.
We employ a comprehensive trial strategy that is uniquely tailored to the allegations in your case. With us on your side, you can breathe easily because we will:
Look at Your Arrest Through the Eyes of a Defense Attorney
Prosecution cases are not always airtight. In fact, many cases turn on procedural errors or other inaccuracies in police paperwork. Your attorney will go through the circumstances of your arrest with a fine-toothed comb. If we discover errors, we could use that as leverage to have evidence (or your case) dismissed.
Make Sure Police Had Probable Cause
Many arrests are initiated by police who lack probable cause to pull people over in the first place. Our team will look for evidence and witnesses who can prove there was no probable cause to assume you were under the influence. If we demonstrate there was no probable cause to pull you over, we could assert that law enforcement violated your rights and move to have any subsequent evidence suppressed which would likely result in your case being dismissed.
Handle Case-Related Paperwork
DWI cases come with a lot of legal paperwork, all of which must be filed on time and in a specific manner. What’s more, even a single error could delay your trial and complicate matters. Our team will handle all the case-related paperwork, such as motions and pleadings, ensuring that everything gets handled correctly.
Argue for Low Bail or Pre-Trial Release
Being incarcerated in the Galveston County Jail before trial is not a pleasant experience. Our law office will make a strong case for why you should receive pre-trial release or affordable terms for bail. That way, while your trial day approaches, you can spend time with your family rather than behind bars.
Our Galveston Second-Offense DWI Attorney Protects You from These Penalties
Per the Texas Penal Code, many second-offense DWIs are charged as Class A misdemeanors. There is no “look-back” period in Texas. That means any previous DWI conviction, no matter how long ago, will make the next arrest a second offense. If convicted of a second-offense DWI, you will face these severe penalties, per the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS):
- Up to a $4,000 fine
- The loss of your license for up to two years
- Anywhere from 30 days to 365 days in jail
If the second-offense DWI conviction is within five years of the previous conviction, you may also be required to install an ignition interlock device in your vehicle. Any fees associated with the installation of the ignition locks would be at your own expense. It goes without saying all these penalties are severe, and that’s why your DWI lawyer will fight hard for a “not guilty” verdict.
Talk to a Galveston Second Offense DWI Lawyer Today
Galveston authorities take DWI enforcement very seriously. If you’ve been arrested for a second-offense DWI, it’s likely the prosecutor will push for the highest jail time and fines. That’s to say nothing of the damage a second conviction would do to your reputation. Having a criminal record as a repeat offender will not only increase your insurance costs, but it will also harm your career prospects and where you can lawfully reside. It could even affect child custody matters.
Having a criminal defense lawyer can have a tremendous impact on the outcome of your case. Even if you’ve been convicted of DWI once, you still have the same right to counsel as you did after your first arrest. Reach out to our law office for a confidential case evaluation. Find out how Blass Law can help you win one of the toughest fights of your life.