The Texas Senate recently approved legislation that would allow individuals who are convicted of single-offense, nonviolent misdemeanors to have a “second chance” by asking a court to seal their criminal records. The bill, House Bill 3016, returned to the House so that the House may consider some changes proposed by the Senate.

If House Bill 3016 passes, it applies retroactively, to any person who ever got convicted of any single-offense nonviolent misdemeanor. Sealed records are just that, records that are hidden from public view. When a person’s record gets sealed, doors are open to them that would have remained closed while their offense was publicly visible on their criminal record. Sealed records are visible to police, and to others who are involved in sensitive industries like education and banking. This legislation is important for Texans because criminal convictions hold people back in many areas of their lives, limiting employment opportunities, housing options, and more. If the legislation passes, it will clear the way for many people who made one-off mistakes to move forward in areas of their lives where the consequences of those mistakes have been holding them back.

The “second-chance” provisions of House Bill 3016 apply to class C misdemeanors, and to DWI convictions where the driver’s blood alcohol level was under 0.15. If the bill becomes law, qualifying DWI defendants could ask a court for an order of nondisclosure after only six months of compliant usage of an ignition interlock device. Alternatively, an order of nondisclosure would be available to qualifying defendants after five years has passed since the time that they completed whatever sentence they got for their DWI. The opportunity for record sealing is not available to defendants that get convicted of crimes that the judge has determined to be sexual or violent in nature, even if it is their first offense. House Bill 3016 is not unique in its purpose. It is designed to build on to legislation that got passed in 2015, which applies to Class A and Class B misdemeanors that are nonsexual in nature and which do not involve family violence.

Texas DWI Defense Attorney Alex Tyra – Standing Up for the Rights of Texans Accused of Driving While Intoxicated

If House Bill 3016 passes, it could help you recover from the adverse effects that your DWI conviction has had on your life. If you face DWI charges in Texas, the best thing that you can do is get help from a Texas DWI defense attorney. Your attorney can help you find the answers to the questions that you have about how to proceed with your case, how to minimize the impact of your DWI case on your life, and help you find any other information that you seek.  Arrange for a consultation with Texas DWI Defense Attorney Alex Tyra today, by calling or office at (903) 753-7499. Alternatively, you can set up an initial consultation by submitting an online contact form through our website.

If you have experienced a DWI traffic stop in Texas before, you may have a different experience the next time that you get pulled over. The state of Texas is currently testing a new system that could make it quicker for law enforcement officers to obtain blood draw warrants. The testing is taking place in Leander and Liberty Hill. The technology lets officers in the field send DWI blood search warrants directly to a judge, which reduces the amount of time that passes between the traffic stop and the blood draw.

With the traffic stop procedures that are in place right now, a DWI stop in some locations can take between four and six hours from start to finish. The current method also involves locating a judge and meeting with them in person to obtain their signature on the search warrant. Depending upon where the traffic stop occurs, it may also involve placing the suspect in jail for some time, as well as transporting them to a hospital for a blood alcohol test.

If the testing goes well and the state decides to adopt the new system, officers will be able to get more accurate blood alcohol test results because the sample will get taken closer to the time of driving. DWI suspects will benefit because they will be detained for far less time unless, of course, their test results reveal a blood-alcohol level over the legal limit.

Some DWI defense attorneys are concerned that the new system may not give defendants enough protection. For example, electronic documents do not enable a judge to look at the warrant with the officer right there next to them and available to answer questions that the judge may have. There is also the possibility that judges may be quick to approve electronic warrants and not give them a thorough read-through before indicating their approval.

Whether the new blood test warrant technology gets implemented or not, the strategies for getting through a traffic stop with the least amount of damage remain the same. Be as calm and respectful as you can. Say as little as possible while complying with the officer’s reasonable requests for information like your registration, license, and proof of car insurance. Remember that it is possible to be polite and respectful while declining to answer questions regarding where you were and what you did – you can just say that you want to talk to a lawyer. Also, be aware that the officer is looking for any and all evidence that they can use to support the conclusion that they had already arrived at when they decided to pull you over – the conclusion that you are driving under the influence of alcohol. Actions can speak louder than words, so in addition to saying as little as you can, move as little as you can. In other words, do not get out of the car to perform field sobriety tests because even sober people can wobble or falter, especially when they are under pressure.

Texas DWI Defense Attorney Alex Tyra – Protecting the Rights of DWI Defendants

If you are facing Texas DWI charges and you have questions, a Texas DWI Defense Attorney can help you find the information that you’re seeking.  Call Texas DWI Defense Attorney Alex Tyra today at (903) 753-7499 to schedule a consultation or submit an online contact form through our website.

Sometimes, DWI is the only charge that results from a traffic stop or a motorist’s encounter with law enforcement. DWI is a serious charge with harsh consequences, and a driver who is charged with DWI has a tough road ahead of them to navigate. Unfortunately, some drivers end up getting charged with additional crimes along with their DWI charges.

Recently, a Texas driver got charged with fleeing from a police officer and resisting arrest, search, and transport, in addition to DWI after he failed to stop for the law enforcement officers who tried to pull him over. The police had to use their vehicles to prevent the driver from escaping. Once he exited his vehicle, the driver refused to cooperate with the officers, disregarding what they asked him to do and even attempting to walk away from the scene. When the officers tried to arrest him, he resisted. He even resisted getting into the police car, even after the officers Tasered him to get him to comply.

Fleeing a police officer and resisting arrest are just a few of the types of charges that can easily end up getting added to a DWI charge. Depending on the driver’s behavior and circumstances, they might also be charged with driving with a suspended license, DWI with a child passenger, assaulting police officers or having drugs in their possession. Most people know that a DWI will have a far-reaching set of consequences for a driver who is convicted of that offense. Incarceration, fines, license suspension, potential loss of job security, possible loss of housing, and the possible loss of other freedoms and resources can have a devastating combined impact on. When additional charges are added on to a DWI, they may increase the amount of fines, incarceration, and other penalties and they can also have consequences that reach even farther into the individual’s life, affecting their home and family life, their career, and other things that are important to them.

Texas DWI Defense Attorney Alex Tyra – Providing Strong Defense Against DWI and Related Charges

All Texas DWI defendants benefit from the assistance of experienced DWI defense counsel. Since there is even more at stake for individuals who are facing other charges in addition to their DWI, people have an even greater need for assistance from attorneys who are skilled at looking at all of the facts of a defendant’s situation and formulating a strong defense strategy. In Texas, DWI and criminal cases proceed through various stages, and a skilled DWI defense attorney can help you know what you can expect at every step of the way. Your attorney can also help you find answers to the many questions that are sure to arise over the course of your case. If you have been charged with DWI, whether with or without additional charges, it is time for you to take the important action step of protecting your rights today.  Call Texas DWI Defense Attorney Alex Tyra, at (903) 753-7499, or contact us via our convenient online contact form.

Halloween is on a Monday this year, but that does not mean that there won’t be any fun for adults who have to go to work on Tuesday morning. The weekend before Halloween is likely to be filled with all kinds of fun and festive parties. It could also be filled with traffic stops and a heightened law enforcement presence on the roadways, especially if some areas decide to implement a no refusal weekend.

If you like going to Halloween parties, you may be looking forward to choosing a costume and going out for a weekend of fun. Please be advised that law enforcement officers are well aware that adults enjoy Halloween just as much as kids do, and they will be paying close attention to keeping drunk drivers off of the roads by increasing their patrols. This larger law enforcement presence is likely to lead to more traffic stops, which means that drivers are at a higher risk of being pulled over than they usually are. Since law enforcement officers are basically out hunting for intoxicated drivers this weekend, and they will not hesitate to stop any drivers whom they suspect have been drinking.

In addition to increased patrols, police in some areas may choose to implement a “no refusal weekend” on the weekend before Halloween, as they often do around other holidays throughout the year. If you are new to driving or new to Texas, or you somehow don’t know what a “no refusal weekend” is, it is important that you learn about how traffic stops during these specially designated time periods are different from regular traffic stops. During any “no refusal weekend,” any driver who is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol must submit to roadside breath or blood testing. Any driver who refuses to submit to testing will be arrested, and a blood sample will be obtained from them while they are in police custody. Ordinarily, refusal of roadside blood or breath testing results in license suspension, not arrest.

Texas DWI Defense Attorney Alex Tyra – Defending Texas Drivers Who Are Charged With DWI

If you are stopped by the police at any point in time, try to prevent your traffic stop from becoming a DWI investigation. You can increase your chance of avoiding an investigation by remaining calm, using a respectful tone of voice, and giving the police officer only as much information as the law requires. If you do end up being taken into custody, invoke your right to remain silent and ask to speak with an attorney right away. A knowledgeable Texas DWI defense attorney can do many things to build a strong case on your behalf, especially if you retain them right away. If you have been accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, contact an experienced Texas DWI Defense Attorney today. If you have any questions about DWI in Texas, call Texas DWI Defense Attorney Alex Tyra, at (903) 753-7499, or contact us online.

Now that you face DWI charges, you may feel like you are in an unfamiliar landscape. Before your DWI, you were not likely thinking about how you would defend yourself against DWI charges. After all, there was no need to think about that – until now. Now that you are facing DWI charges, you are probably deeply concerned about how you will defend yourself against them. If you do not remember anything else right now, know that you do not have to defend yourself against DWI charges. There are attorneys who work hard every day to help clients like you fight back against DWI charges.

Now that you know that there are attorneys who can help you fight your DWI charges take the next step and choose a DWI defense attorney right away. Do not attempt to save time and or money by representing yourself, because there is so much at stake in your DWI case. Hire a DWI defense attorney right away and give yourself a fighting chance at keeping the financial and personal costs of your DWI to a minimum.

You may wonder what you get when you retain a DWI defense attorney, and that’s a good thing. It is important for you to know what you are buying when you retain legal counsel. Speak with your attorney and get a handle on what they can and cannot do for you throughout your case. Rest assured that your attorney can help you in many ways, like helping you to understand the charges against you, as well as the potential consequences of a conviction. Your attorney will speak to you about the details of your case because much of their work involves using what they know about the law and about the facts of your case to determine what kinds of defense strategies may be available to you. Another part of the work of a DWI defense attorney is helping their clients understand their options for resolving their DWI cases and how each possible option could impact their lives.

While some DWI defendants may feel as though they do not need to go out and select an attorney because they qualify for the services that are offered by public defenders, it is essential that all DWI defendants understand the difference between using a public defender for a DWI case and using private counsel. Public defenders are attorneys who are paid by the state to provide legal assistance to people who meet certain economic criteria. Private counsel is an attorney that the defendant has selected and retained at his or her own expense. All attorneys do their best to represent the interests of their clients, but unfortunately, public defenders have less control over how many cases they handle at any given time than private counsel do, so they may have little time to work on each of their cases. Also, in Texas there is another distinction between the public defender and private counsel – public defenders in Texas do not participate in the administrative license suspension process. Drivers who are charged with DWI must request an ALR hearing if they wish to avoid license suspension and only private counsel can handle those requests and hearings.

Texas DWI Defense Attorney Alex Tyra – Strong Defense for Texas Drivers Charged With DWI

Texas DWI Defense Attorney Alex Tyra works hard for Texas DWI defendants. Could he help you, too? Please call our office today, at (903) 753-7499, or contact us online.