When you face charges for driving while intoxicated (DWI), you have tight deadlines ahead of you. In order to retain your Texas driver’s license, you need to schedule an ALR hearing within 15 days of your arrest.
At Nguyen & Chen, our criminal defense attorneys offer free case evaluations*. When you meet with our legal team, we strive to ease your concerns, protect your freedom, and get to work.
When you face drunk driving charges, you need an experienced Houston DWI lawyer on your side. As former prosecutors, we understand how the other side works, giving us valuable insight into the weaknesses of their case. Moreover, we offer aggressive representation to defend you against alcohol-related charges.
When the police catch you operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher, you need to understand the gravity of your situation. Texas takes drunk driving charges extremely seriously, and these cases worsen if you cause a wreck. As such, the steps you take after your arrest have a direct impact on your rights, your freedom, and your future.
With the right representation, you have a fighting chance. To start off on the right foot, contact our law firm to schedule a free case evaluation*.
At our full-service law firm, our goal is to ensure our clients have the resources and representation necessary to meet their goals. With our experience as prosecutors, we understand how the state views drunk driving cases. Moreover, we see when they want to levy the harshest punishments possible.
When you meet with a Houston DWI lawyer at Nguyen & Chen, it is crucial for us to understand the specifics of your case. Knowing what evidence they plan to use against you helps us build a stronger defense.
First, we need to know which court your case goes to. Often, this tells us quite a bit and allows us to build a foundation for your defense. We learn how the judge operates, who the prosecution has, and what the potential is for the best possible outcome.
While we don’t want our clients to worry too much, we also don’t want to be the lawyers who tell their clients that everything is fine at their initial consultation. At our criminal defense firm, your Houston DWI lawyer stays honest with you from the very beginning.
As we take on your case, we begin to collect crucial evidence.
At your first court date, we receive the Offense Report. Then, your Houston DWI lawyer covers the contents with you. There are many aspects of the case to analyze to find the best defense.
As we analyze the details of your arrest, we look for weaknesses. These weaknesses allow us to stay proactive and protect your rights.
Next, your Houston DWI lawyer requests the video from your arrest. If there’s a videotape from the arrest, it is up to the officer to turn it in. When there’s no video, we subpoena the officer’s vehicle maintenance records to find out why.
If there is a video, we review the footage ourselves and with you. From there, we discuss the pros and cons of contesting what the footage shows. When portions of the video violate the law, it may be beneficial to suppress parts of it.
Additionally, we secure footage from to station. This helps us see your condition at the time they booked you. Again, we weigh the pros and cons of using the footage.
When your breath test shows a BAC of 0.08% or higher, it’s difficult to combat. However, difficult does not mean impossible.
With lower scores, it’s possible to appeal to a jury regarding the problems with breathalyzers and the margin of error. This helps them understand the acceptable range of error.
As we examine your case, we take careful note of how the officer implements a test. Often, there’s a good deal of room for error in these tests. Moreover, some machines are outdated and in dire need of replacement.
Your Houston DWI lawyer has to take all of this into consideration. Only then are they able to properly build a defense for your case.
In Texas, the penalties for a DWI vary. Generally speaking, it depends on the severity of your situation. However, every drunk driving case requires competent legal representation.
After a DWI conviction, you often face annual fees to keep your driver’s license valid. Depending on the details of your case, you may also have to cover the cost of alcohol treatment programs, interlock devices, and restitution.
In addition to the basic form of driving while intoxicated, there are numerous variations of a DWI. All of them yield serious consequences. At Nguyen & Chen, our Houston DWI defense attorneys handle any and all forms of DWI charges.
When you need a Houston DWI lawyer on your side, trust our team to fight for your future.
As a full-service law firm, our attorneys know how to solve problems. Experiencing an arrest for a DWI is an incredibly stressful experience. While the consequences for a first-time DWI are less severe, they are far harsher than your standard traffic ticket.
Moreover, drunk driving charges often carry a social stigma as well as a real-world impact on your future.
At Nguyen & Chen, we handle a variety of aspects of DWI cases, including the following.
If you or a loved one faces DWI charges in Houston, TX, it is crucial to work with a Houston DWI lawyer with experience and expertise. Remember that you don’t have to face these challenges alone. Contract our firm to schedule a free consultation*.
ALR refers to an Administrative License Revocation. At an ALR hearing, a judge determines whether you have the right to keep your license after a charge for a DWI. However, these hearings are quite different from other criminal proceedings.
An administrative law judge (ALJ) presides over this type of hearing. It’s important to note that these judges don’t necessarily have training in DWI law. Moreover, the hearing has no jury.
Often, this makes an ALR hearing one-sided and difficult for someone to win without representation. Still, the stronger your defense, the better your chances are of receiving a good recommendation. This leaves you with the potential to reduce or drop charges and save your license.
When you partner with our team of skilled Houston criminal defense attorneys, you have an advocate on your side. We understand how to deal with an ALJ. Your Houston DWI lawyer works with you to navigate the ALR hearing and fight to maintain your independence.
Ultimately, this depends on the facts and outcome of your case. However, it’s important to recognize that a charge and arrest stay on your record until you take action. In some cases, you have the potential to seal or erase your record.
Expungement or expunction refers to this process of erasing something from your record. When you partner with a DWI defense attorney at Nguyen & Chen, you have the guidance and assistance necessary to navigate this process.
Expungement offers you a clean slate. As such, it is crucial to work with an experienced attorney.
When a driver faces a DWI charge, they often assume there’s no way to change the outcome. They think the future is set in stone, assuming conviction, license suspension, and jail time are a matter of fact. However, a Houston DWI defense attorney has the power to protect your rights and your future.
Any DWI defendant with these defeatist thoughts simply needs an advocate on their side. Before it’s too late, there’s an opportunity to fight for a better outcome. All it takes is the effort, insight, and aggressive representation of an experienced DWI attorney in Houston, TX.
When you partner with a lawyer, the outcome of your trial can change quite dramatically. If you or a loved one faces charges of drunk driving, schedule a free consultation* with the criminal defense attorneys at Nguyen & Chen LLP. Our team is ready to help you fight.
But, what does a Houston DWI lawyer do to help someone?
The facts of a case might seem etched in stone, but they are not. Your Houston DWI lawyer works to investigate what happened leading up to the DWI charge or arrest. Oftentimes, the prosecution gathers evidence that incriminates and exonerates.
In Texas, the state takes these charges seriously. As such, the prosecution often pushes for heightened charges. At Nguyen & Chen, we uncover the facts of the case and call prosecutors on their bluff as we correct their errors.
Moreover, an investigation of these cases has the potential to reveal weaknesses in the process. For instance, blood tests can be mishandled, and field sobriety tests are far from reliable. Our team uncovers these weaknesses to pursue the best possible outcome of your case.
One of the main duties of a Houston DWI lawyer is to help you understand your situation. This ensures that you make wise decisions as we fight to protect your future. At our criminal defense law firm, we have a deep knowledge of DWI laws.
We use our expertise and experience to anticipate the prosecution’s actions and prepare in advance.
To some attorneys, a DWI defense is a matter of routine. However, this is far from the truth. Every DWI case requires aggressive representation and diligent attention to the details.
We commit ourselves as our clients’ advocates to protect their rights and futures. As you face DWI charges, it’s important to understand that you have the same constitutional rights as everyone else. That means you deserve personalized representation to protect those rights.
In some cases, DWI charges warrant a broad range of strategies. Here are a few examples of how we approach your case.
With broad experience at trial, our Houston DWI lawyer understands how to assert these and other rights to make a difference in your case. When we assert and protect your rights, we pursue a better outcome in your case.
With a skilled advocate on your side, you have someone to protect your future.
When you partner with our Houston DWI defense attorney, we guide you through the entire DWI process. There are several ways to challenge a DWI charge in Texas. In some cases, its a matter of oral advocacy.
At other times, it requires a deeper understanding of the administrative process. Often, this also requires timely, sensitive management of administrative procedures that have a major impact on your future.
At an ALR hearing, your license is on the line. This is a critical example of how a DWI lawyer can help you protect your rights. Typically, officers confiscate the driver’s license at an arrest.
From there, it’s crucial to schedule an administrative license revocation hearing. In doing so, we help to preserve your driving privileges. Additionally, your Houston DWI lawyer provides representation at this administrative hearing and handles any necessary appeals.
Another impactful example is the potential for deferred adjudication. For some defendants, this is the best possible outcome. However, it comes with certain prices.
Our DWI defense team helps you understand your position, the risks involved, and the costs of maintaining your freedom. When you decide to pursue this route, it also requires the help of a DWI defense attorney who knows how to leverage it in your favor.
Schedule a free case evaluation* with the Houston DWI lawyer at Nguyen & Chen today.
When you face a DWI or DUI in Texas, it’s an overwhelming situation. With so much at stake in your case, it’s important to understand the reality of your situation. Moreover, it’s important to understand how an arrest for drunk driving impacts your criminal record.
As your record comes into play, people often wonder whether expungement is a possibility. Unfortunately, Texas law surrounding DWI expungement is complex. However, our Houston DWI lawyer is always ready to help.
First, the most important thing to know is that there’s no option to expunge a DWI conviction. Unfortunately, that conviction remains on your record. However, there are some options to remove an arrest from your record. Here’s how a DWI defense attorney can help you remove a DUI/DWI from your criminal record.
When your case meets the following conditions, you have a chance to expunge your record.
Even in the face of conviction, there’s still hope. However, you need the expertise and experience of a Houston DWI lawyer. Schedule a free case evaluation* with our team to learn more about your options.
Expungement does not seal your records. Sealed records remain on your file for the world to speculate about. Unfortunately, the fact that expungement fully removes your charges means the process is difficult.
In Texas, these laws are strict. Additionally, the petition process is far from straightforward. Any number of delays, oversights, or errors can prevent your right to pursue this remedy altogether.
That’s why it is crucial that you partner with a Houston DWI lawyer who understands the process. With an advocate on your side, you have someone to help you navigate the process. Moreover, you have someone to ensure the petition is filed completely and on time.
If you have questions about the process of expungement or are up against drunk driving charges, reach out to an experienced Houston DWI defense attorney at Nguyen & Chen. At our firm, we pride ourselves on being problem solvers.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation. Start the fight for your future now.
At Nguyen & Chen, we commit ourselves to expert representation. Throughout the Greater Houston Area, we utilize our resources to challenge DWI charges for drivers. When you partner with our Houston DWI lawyer, you have an advocate ready to fight for your future.
We strive for the best possible outcome in every case we take on. With the complex nature of Texas DWI cases, we strongly advise working with an experienced professional. Let us offer you the guidance necessary to find the path that best suits your case.
Schedule a free consultation* with our Houston DWI lawyer today.
*Consultation fees may be waived on a case by case basis and at the discretion of the reviewing attorney.