A message from an Ellis County DWI and DUI Lawyer....

A DWI arrest can happen to anyone!

Unlike many crimes, such as theft or burglary, a DWI is the one crime most citizens are subject to being arrested for, and here's why....

Picture that you have just spent an evening with friends. You've had a nice dinner after a grueling day at work. As you have dinner, you have a drink or two. You feel fine, so there should be no problem.

Well, as you are on your way home you receive a call on your cell phone. As you reach for the cell phone, your car moves over into the next lane slightly. You answer the call, and move out of your lane a second time during the conversation.

The next thing you notice are police lights behind you. The officer walks up to your vehicle, asks for your driver's license, and tells you that he smells alcohol (perhaps it is on your breath or was the result of a slight spill during dinner). The officer ask if you have been drinking and you answer with the truth.

At this point, you have three strikes against you, and my guess is that you did not even know it. Moreover, there is a good chance you are going to jail no matter what you do from this point.

Why are you going to jail? Let's see...you had two drinks, two hours ago...YOUR NOT DRUNK!

Wait, this still doesn't add up....

Odds are you just became a victim of a political movement adopted by Texas, and best demonstrated by its slogan "Drink, Drive, Go to Jail." It matters little that it's not illegal to drink and drive (only to be intoxicated and drive, but that's not what the billboards and television commercials tell people).

As political groups, such as MADD, have gained strength, the offense of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI, and DUI as it is referenced to by many) has swung to the far right from where it was 20 or 30 years ago. What was once considered a system that was too lenient on drunk drivers has now become regarded by some as an "arrest first, ask questions later" mentality by law enforcement, especially DPS.

The reasons for this are vast, but each year it seems that Austin creates greater penalties for the offense of Drunk Driving.

As a result of the increasing tougher DWI laws, it is important that you seek an experienced and qualified DWI lawyer quickly after your arrest, especially in Ellis County where the Ellis County District Attorney's office still believes in operating a "closed file" policy, which essentially means that an attorney filing a slip and fall case is entitled to more information than a criminal defense attorney fighting for a citizen's liberty.

Since time is of the essence when it comes to fighting a DWI arrest, it is important that you consult with a DWI attorney familiar with Ellis County as soon as possible.