How Does a DWI Non-Disclosure Work in Texas?

Around one million drivers per year are arrested on a DWI charge in America. If you are one of them and you hope to have any shot at a productive life in the future, you need to research the Texas non-disclosure process.

Getting a DWI in Texas can net you hefty fines and jail time. It also leaves a permanent mark on your record.

If you got arrested for DWI, there are a couple of crucial steps you can take to getting your life back on track. Read on to find out more.

What Happens When You Get a DWI?

Texas does not take driving under the influence of alcohol lightly. The state imposes hefty fines, license suspension, and prison time for even first-time offenders. Read up on penalties to arm yourself with knowledge.

For your first offense, you can expect up to a $2,000 fine, up to 180 days in jail (with a minimum of three served), and a license suspension of up to a year. The harshness of the penalties only increases with repeat offenses.

For your second offense, you can expect your fine to double to $4,000. You can also expect to spend at least a month and up to a year in jail. You will also lose your license for two years.

If the same mistake happens a third time, you can expect two to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. You also won’t be seeing your license again after your release.

Long story short, it is a bad idea to drive drunk in Texas. What’s more is that even after serving your time and paying your fine, your DWI will haunt you for the rest of your life.

Anytime you apply for a job, apartment, or need a background check, your DWI charge will be visible. It will serve as a glaring reminder of your mistake and will prevent you from having a productive life in society.

What Can You Do?

Let’s face it, everybody makes mistakes. If you face a DWI charge in Texas, you must find a DWI attorney to defend you right away.

A DWI lawyer can help you get your charges reduced and may help you avoid the bulk of jail time. You will want to find the best Texas law firm that has a specialization in handling Texas DWI laws.

Every state has its laws in regards to driving under the influence, so make sure that your lawyer deals with Texas law specifically.

You want to make sure that they have a long history of experience in the local area and are knowledgeable. Don’t try to save money or cut corners here. A lawyer will be expensive because a DWI costs a ton of money.

Your primary concern right off the bat should be getting the charges reduced so that you can avoid as much jail time as possible. This will not be an easy task, but a solid lawyer should be up to the challenge.

They can challenge how you were pulled over and determine if the police had true probable cause to ask you to step out of the car in the first place. This is one of the best ways to get charges reduced or dropped.

If the police acted out of protocol, profiled you, or committed some other form of a legal snafu at the time of arrest, all of the charges that resulted from the traffic stop are considered null and void.

A solid DWI lawyer can also bargain with the prosecutor to try and get some of the charges reduced. You may be able to plead guilty to lesser charges such as reckless driving.

Pursuing a Texas Non-Disclosure

The unfortunate reality is that even if you get your DWI penalties reduced and manage to bypass significant jail time, your experience will not be over.

Unless you get all charges dropped, which is very rare, the DWI will remain on your permanent record. This allows potential employers, and other entities, to see that you have been charged with a DUI in the past.

Fortunately for you, a good lawyer can pursue a Texas non-disclosure if you are eligible by meeting specific criteria. This means that the DWI charge will be wiped off your public record.

Texas Non-Disclosure Eligibility Requirements

First of all, the DWI needs to be your first offense. Repeat offenders are not eligible.

Next, your blood alcohol content needed to be less than 0.15 at the time of the arrest. You must also have completed a waiting period of either two or five years, depending on if you needed a breathalyzer attached to the ignition of your car.

You are also required to pay all fines, serve all jail time, and complete all community service before pursuing your Texas non-disclosure. Convicts are ineligible for expulsion.

The same goes for anybody with a DWI charge involving boating, flying an airplane, or having to do with minors. If you meet all of these eligibility requirements, you may pursue a Texas non-disclosure.

This, in essence, wipes the DWI charge off your permanent record. However, law enforcement, state and federal authorities, and government employers will still be able to see it in their background check processes.

If you are interested in pursuing a Texas non-disclosure, you need to contact a DWI attorney that can help you with the necessary application process. This involves compiling important documents and submitting your case.

Without a reputable DWI lawyer, you don’t stand a chance of getting your DWI expunged. Seek one out today to get your life back on track, and always drive sober to avoid future headaches.

Move Forward With Your Life

A DWI charge can mar your permanent record and render you unemployable and even homeless. By pursuing a Texas non-disclosure, you can avoid these unfortunate circumstances and move on with your life.

If you have gotten a DWI in the past and are eligible for a Texas non-disclosure, you need to contact a good lawyer right away.

Contact us today to see if we can help your case so you can move on with your life.