Is My Driver’s License Valid Immediately After a DWI Arrest in Texas?

October 2, 2012

By Collin County Criminal Defense Lawyer Jeremy Rosenthal

(972) 369-0577

texasdefensefirm.com

Yes.  Here is a link to the State’s DIC-25 warning which you should have been given prior to having taken or refused the breath test.

Even though your physical drivers license was probably taken by the officer if you refused the test or blew over 0.08, this warning states in bold letters your license isn’t actually suspended for 40 days.  The document itself actually serves as your temporary driving permit for the 40 days.

Additionally, your license isn’t even automatically suspended after the 40 days if you appeal the suspension. In that case, your license wouldn’t be suspended until after the administrative judge rules on your appeal (and even then — only your appeal is denied).

If you voluntarily submit to a blood specimen, that specimen obviously needs to be analyzed.  It’s typically shipped to a Department of Public Safety Lab where there is a wait to have it analyzed.  In those cases where the blood comes back over 0.08, DPS should send you a notice giving you 20 days to appeal the suspension.  But even then, the suspension is not immediate upon the arrest.

It’s a common mis-impression that you’re not even allowed to drive the very next day after an arrest which law enforcement is happy not to clear-up.  This is part of the pressure tactic to attempt to persuade people to submit to breath or blood tests.

*Jeremy Rosenthal is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas. Nothing in this article is intended to be legal advice.  For legal advice about any matter you should consult an attorney directly.  Contacting the author through this forum does not create an attorney-client relationship.  Communications through this forum are not confidential nor privileged.

It’s a common mis-impression

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Posted by Jeremy Rosenthal, Esq.

Simple Thoughts on the Reliability of the Breath Test

September 12, 2012

By Collin County Criminal Defense Lawyer Jeremy Rosenthal

texasdefensefirm.com

(972) 369-0577

Texas uses the Intoxylizer 5000 as its breath test machine.  Rather than discuss it in confusing and lengthy scientific concepts (which we’re happy to do in person), let’s discuss in general terms some if the problems associated with the machine.

Think of it as a scale in your bathroom that says you weigh anywhere from 50 to 170 lbs.  Not very helpful, is it?  This is for several compounding reasons.  First is the machine’s technology was created when the Atari video games were popular and Texas simply hasn’t found it cost-effective to upgrade.  Second is the machine piles assumption after assumption about the test-taker which may or may-not be true.

Also the machine – like any other mousetrap — can completely whiff on occasion.  The amount of ethyl alcohol it would take to score a false positive could fit on the tip of a pen as just one example.  The machine can be set off by GERD or gastro-intestinal reflux disease, can respond to environmental products used in the workplace, and has problems distinguishing diabetic shock from intoxication.

Again, we’re happy to discuss the science behind the Breath test in person… but understand just because the machine said it doesn’t mean it’s accurate!  It never hurts to scrutinize any test result.

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What Happens After A DWI Arrest?

July 13, 2012

By Collin County Criminal Lawyer Jeremy Rosenthal

texasdefensefirm.com

(972) 369-0577

I am frequently asked “what now” after someone is released from jail on a driving while intoxicated arrest.  Though the specific answer may vary depending on where in Texas you were arrested, here are some answers to common questions:

What is My Legal Status?

If you just got out of jail for a DWI or DUI arrest, then you are technically released on bond.  This means have conditions to live by to assure you appear in court (or in certain cases) do not endanger the public.  You will probably not be formally charged with DWI for several weeks or in some cases (usually where there is blood evidence) for several months.  The District Attorney’s office in your county will review the report and decide whether to file a case against you with a document known as an “information.”  In Collin County virtually every case where an officer makes an arrest ultimately gets filed.

What Happens Now?

A DWI is two cases in one.  There are the driver’s license suspension issues and then there are the criminal aspects.

For the driver’s license suspension portion, you must remember you have 15 days appeal any driver’s license suspension issued because of a breath test refusal or failure (score of 0.08 or greater) within 15 days of the arrest with the Texas Department of Public Safety.  These are highly technical proceedings which lawyers commonly handle.  If a voluntary blood specimen was given, then you have 20 days after you receive notice your blood was above 0.08 blood/alcohol concentration.

For the criminal side of the case, you can expect to appear in court for an announcement when the case is filed with the information.  This appearance is more of a work-session between your lawyer than the prosecutor than an actual appearance before a judge (though in some jurisdictions the judge may wish to proceed with technical matters that require you to visit with them).  It is the announcement where your lawyer will have some access to the police report (again, depending on the jurisdiction) and access to the video evidence in the case.

Ultimately, you and your attorney will decide whether you wish to plead guilty to the charges with a plea bargain — or plead not guilty and have a trial.  It is also possible the State may dismiss the case depending various other factors.

Is My Driver’s License Suspended Immediately?

No.  If you were given a document called a DIC-25, then you have a temporary driving permit valid for 40 days from the date of the arrest.  If you appeal the suspension, the temporary permit is valid until your administrative law review hearing (ALR) which could be several months later.  This is the case even if the officer confiscated your driver’s license.

Can I Get This Off My Record?

Yes.  The steps may be different in each unique case, but not guilty verdicts and expunctions are common for DUI and DWI cases.  You should visit with a lawyer directly about how to accomplish this in your case.

*Jeremy Rosenthal is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas. Nothing in this article should be considered legal advice.  For legal advice about any situation you should contact a lawyer directly.

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Deep Lung Devices are Getting Harder to Avoid in Collin County While on Bond

December 14, 2011

By Dallas and Collin County Criminal Defense Lawyer Jeremy Rosenthal

(972) 562-7549

texasdefensefirm.com

All driving while intoxicated arrests in Texas require that a person see a magistrate judge.  That judge is required by law to make an initial assessment and to decide whether to order the defendant to have an ignition interlock device (also known as a deep lung device) under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure 17.441.

Here is the relevant text of 17.441:

“(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a magistrate shall require on release that a defendant charged with a subsequent offense under Sections 49.04-49.06, Penal Code, or an offense under Section 49.07 or 49.08 of that code:

“(1) have installed on the motor vehicle owned by the defendant or on the vehicle most regularly driven by the defendant, a device that uses a deep-lung breath analysis mechanism to make impractical the operation of a motor vehicle if ethyl alcohol is detected in the breath of the operator; and

“(2) not operate any motor vehicle unless the vehicle is equipped with that device.

“(b) The magistrate may not require the installation of the device if the magistrate finds that to require the device would not be in the best interest of justice.

Section 17.441 can be read to state that a judge can only order the interlock device on a vehicle if it’s the 2nd DWI arrest (or more) of the defendant.  The judge can find that an interlock ignition device is not appropriate in the best interests of justice even on a 2nd arrest.

In reality, Judge’s interpret the law to state that they can always place an interlock device on a car but are only required to do so on a 2nd offense.  It is unclear whether they are interpreting 17.441 as the basis for their beliefs of some other statute.  Additionally, many Collin County judges have informal policies that if a defendant had a car accident or was charged with the new offense of DWI with a blood alcohol concentration above 0.15, then they will order the deep lung device as well.

Ultimately deep lung devices are becoming more and more common as terms and conditions of bond in Collin County.  Arrest and going before the magistrate is not the only time in a case where a judge may have an opportunity to order the deep lung device as well… the judge can order the defendant get one when the defendant applies for an occupational license due to a driver’s license suspension, during a guilty plea, or if a jury convicts the defendant.

*Jeremy Rosenthal is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas. Nothing in this article is intended to be legal advice.  For legal advice about any situation, you should contact an attorney directly.  Contacting the attorney through this blog does not create an attorney client relationship and communications through this blog are not confidential.

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