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It is not likely that you were thinking about DWI defense until you were charged with DWI. If you are facing DWI charges, the issue of how you will mount a defense against those charges is now a very real issue that you are deeply concerned about. Fortunately, there are attorneys who spend a great deal of time and effort helping clients just like you present their best possible defenses against DWI charges. If you drive and you have never been charged with DWI, it is still important for you to understand what DWI defense attorneys do. Some DWI defense clients are, in fact, innocent drivers who did not consume any alcohol before they were stopped and arrested for driving while they were allegedly intoxicated.
As with any type of legal matter, people may wonder whether they could handle their DWI defense case on their own. Unfortunately, there is a lot at stake in a DWI case, because the negative consequences of a DWI arrest or conviction can reach into every area of your day to day life. When you spend money to hire a DWI defense attorney, you are investing in giving yourself the best possible chance at keeping the negative consequences of your DWI to a minimum.
When you retain a DWI defense attorney, your attorney can help you in many ways. They will help you to understand the charges that have been brought against you, as well as the potential consequences of a conviction. Your attorney will speak to you about your case, and they will help you understand what kinds of defense strategies may be available to you. A large part of the work of DWI defense attorneys involves helping clients understand their options, because DWI defendants may be presented with a variety of options for resolving their DWI cases.
It is true that some DWI defendants may qualify for services offered by public defenders. However, it is essential that you understand the difference between using a public defender for your DWI case and using private counsel. Public defenders are attorneys who work for the state. They are paid by the state, and they provide legal assistance to people who meet certain economic criteria. Private counsel is an attorney that the defendant has retained. All attorneys are skillful, capable individuals who do their best to represent the interests of their clients. Unfortunately, public defenders have less control over the size of their work load than private counsel do, and they may have very little time to work on each of their cases. These differences are important, but in Texas there is another distinction that may be even more important to you, depending upon how badly you need to keep your driving privileges. 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.
If you are facing DWI charges in Texas, it is essential that you align yourself with someone who can help you obtain the best possible outcome in your DWI case. Texas DWI Defense Attorney Alex Tyra works hard on behalf of Texas DWI defendants, and he can help you, too. Please call our office today, at (903) 753-7499, or contact us online.
If you are getting divorced in Texas, enlisting the aid of a Texas divorce attorney is the best way to ensure that you come away from your marriage with as many of the things that are most important to you as possible. Divorce is a legal process, and there are rules that must be followed. There is also a lot of room for couples to choose how they will settle their divorce cases, within the framework that is provided by those rules. Your divorce attorney is an expert guide who knows the divorce process inside and out, and who is there to help you make decisions throughout the course of your divorce that are likely to bring you to a favorable resolution of your case. The following tips can help you to make the most out of your relationship with your Texas divorce attorney.
When you decide to get divorced, you may develop ideas about what you expect to get out of it. These ideas may be things that you simply feel as though you are entitles to, or they may be based upon information that you know about what friends, family members, or others have gotten in their divorce cases. Each divorce case is unique, so each couple’s divorce has a different result, one that is based upon their unique circumstances. Your attorney can provide you with valuable guidance about what you might realistically be able to obtain during your divorce, as far as assets, parenting time, and the like.
As is the case with any type of legal matter, divorce clients often have a lot of questions. Your divorce is an important part of your life, and your attorney understands that. If you have a question, ask your attorney, because not only will you get the information that you need, your questions may actually help your attorney to provide you with the best representation that they possibly can.
When you work with a Texas divorce attorney, it may seem like your attorney asks you to provide them with a lot of information. You may not want to give them all of that information, either out of a concern for your privacy or because you think that they do not need all of it. However, you must provide your attorney with any and all information that they ask you to provide. If you have concerns, ask them why they need specific information, and they will explain it to you.
A Texas divorce attorney can help you to obtain a settlement or court decision in your divorce case that will provide you with many of the things that are important to you. Texas Divorce Attorney Alex Tyra can help you to understand the divorce process, as well as the options that are available to you for resolving your divorce case. If you have questions or concerns regarding your Texas divorce, please call our office today, at (903) 753-7499.
If you plan to travel out of state to celebrate Memorial Day weekend, it is important that you know that in many states, law enforcement officers will have DUI checkpoints set up along major roadways. Texas does not currently use DUI checkpoints to enforce drunk driving laws, but they are common in other states, and holiday weekends like Memorial Day and Labor Day are time when drivers should expect to encounter them.
In states where DUI checkpoints are used, they may be present at any time of day or night. That said, most checkpoints are set up late at night or early in the morning, as that is when there are likely to be the greatest number of intoxicated drivers on the road. If you do encounter a DUI checkpoint while you are traveling, the following tips may help your experience go more smoothly.
Drivers who are prepared for an encounter with law enforcement at a DUI checkpoint are more likely to be let through quickly, instead of being detained for investigation. Your attitude will, in large part, shape your experience at the checkpoint. Try your best to be polite and cooperative without providing too much information, because any information that you provide could be used against you in the future. Do give the officer basic information, like your license, car insurance, and vehicle registration if you are asked to provide them.
Whatever you do, remember that you do not have to answer every question that is asked of you. Many well-meaning and legally sober drivers are accused of driving under the influence of alcohol after answering questions about where they have been and what they have been doing, or by participating in field sobriety tests. In most places, you cannot be penalized for refusing to perform a field sobriety test. Many tests are set up for the driver to fail, even if they are sober. Nerves, footwear, and agility can cause sober drivers to fail field sobriety tests, and their effectiveness has come into question many, many times.
Sometimes, despite a driver’s best efforts to cooperate with law enforcement officer, an arrest may occur. If you are arrested at a DUI checkpoint, it is essential that you immediately exercise your right to remain silent, after respectfully asking the arresting officer to permit you to speak with your attorney. Your attorney can further advise you regarding whether you should participate in blood or breath testing, because the rules for those tests and the consequences of refusal vary from state to state.
If you have been accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, it is important that you have someone by your side who can protect your rights. Texas DUI Defense Attorney Alex Tyra works hard to protect the rights of DUI defendants, and it is possible that he can help you, too. Please call our office today, at (903) 753-7499, or contact us online via our website.
When a police officer attempts to stop a driver who has a suspended license, or who is concerned that they may be arrested for DUI, they may be in for a surprise. Drivers who fall into these two categories, as well as drivers who are in other precarious situations, sometimes fail to stop for a police officer who is attempting to stop them. As you might imagine, refusing to stop for a police officer has consequences of its own, in addition to any consequences that are likely to be imposed due to drug possession or use, suspended license, alcohol use, or other unlawful activity.
In Texas, there are two separate offenses that cover situations in which an individual attempts to get away from a law enforcement officer who is pursuing them. The first of these offenses is evading arrest or detention, and the second is fleeing or attempting to elude the police. The crime of evading arrest or detention occurs when six specific criteria are met. These criteria are that the person who is accused of attempting to evade is indeed the person who did evade the police, they actually evaded law enforcement for a period of time, they did it intentionally, they did it with the knowledge that an officer was pursuing them, the officer was attempting to detain or arrest them, and the arrest or detention, had it occurred, would have been legal. Evading arrest or detention is a class A misdemeanor if the individual escaped on foot, but it is a Texas jail felony if they used a vehicle. The crime of fleeing or attempting to elude an officer occurs when someone who is driving a motor vehicle refuses to stop when a marked law enforcement vehicle signals, either visibly, audibly, or both, for them to do so.
Defendants who are charged with either of the aforementioned offenses need to know that there are defenses which can be brought against the charges. Drivers do sometimes make mistakes when they are driving, and this includes not stopping for a vehicle that appears to be pursuing them. The signal that is given by the officer and/or their vehicle may be unclear, or you may have been looking for a safe and visible place to pull over. The circumstances under which you were arrested for these offenses play a large role in determining which defenses you may be able to bring against the charges.
Texas Criminal Defense Attorneys know the laws regarding evading arrest or detention and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer inside and out. If you have been accused of one of these offenses, Texas Criminal Defense Attorney Alex Tyra may be able to help you reduce or eliminate the negative consequences associated with your arrest. If you have questions about a criminal law matter, please call our office today, at (903) 753-7499. You may also visit our website and contact us via our online contact form.
If you are facing DUI charges, you may feel that the penalties that you will experience if you are convicted are harsh. While the penalties for a DUI conviction are harsh, there are a few situations in which a driver who is convicted of driving while intoxicated could receive penalties that are even greater than those that they would receive for a regular DUI conviction.
Driving with an open container of alcohol is one situation which could increase the penalty that you could receive. If a driver is convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol with an open container of alcohol, they could receive the standard DUI penalty in addition to a minimum of six days in jail and a fine of up to two thousand dollars.
A DUI conviction can also have effects on future criminal charges. For example, if you have a prior DUI conviction and you are charged with drag racing, your drag racing charge will be classified as a Class A Misdemeanor instead of the usual Class B misdemeanor. Drag racing is also classified as a Class A Misdemeanor if the driver has an open container of alcohol in their vehicle at the time of the offense.
Another situation in which a driver is likely to receive a penalty greater than they would for a standard DUI offense is if they are arrested in Texas for driving while intoxicated and there is a child passenger in the vehicle with them. Texas law considers any person under the age of fifteen to be a child passenger. If you are charged with driving while intoxicated with a child passenger in your vehicle, know that this particular offense is considered a state jail felony, which means that you could be sentenced for up to two years in state jail and fined up to ten thousand dollars.
Automobile accidents can also increase the penalties associated with a DUI arrest. For example, if you are arrested for driving while intoxicated in connection with an accident where someone was seriously hurt and it is determined that your intoxication was the proximate cause of the victim’s injuries, you could be charged with intoxication assault, which is a third degree felony that is punishable by a sentence of two to ten years in jail and a fine of up to ten thousand dollars. If someone dies in an accident or because of other injuries that were caused by your intoxication, you could be charged with intoxication manslaughter. A person who is convicted of of intoxication manslaughter could face two to twenty years in jail and up to ten thousand dollars in fines.
Whether you have been charged with a standard DUI or a related offense which carries an enhanced penalty, it is important that you contact a Texas DUI Defense Attorney. Texas DUI Defense Attorney Alex Tyra is here to help you, so please call our office at (903) 753-7499, or contact us online via our website.
If you are facing DUI charges, you may feel that the penalties that you will experience if you are convicted are harsh. While the penalties for a DUI conviction are harsh, there are a few situations in which a driver who is convicted of driving while intoxicated could receive penalties that are even greater than those that they would receive for a regular DUI conviction.
Driving with an open container of alcohol is one situation which could increase the penalty that you could receive. If a driver is convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol with an open container of alcohol, they could receive the standard DUI penalty in addition to a minimum of six days in jail and a fine of up to two thousand dollars.
A DUI conviction can also have effects on future criminal charges. For example, if you have a prior DUI conviction and you are charged with drag racing, your drag racing charge will be classified as a Class A Misdemeanor instead of the usual Class B misdemeanor. Drag racing is also classified as a Class A Misdemeanor if the driver has an open container of alcohol in their vehicle at the time of the offense.
Another situation in which a driver is likely to receive a penalty greater than they would for a standard DUI offense is if they are arrested in Texas for driving while intoxicated and there is a child passenger in the vehicle with them. Texas law considers any person under the age of fifteen to be a child passenger. If you are charged with driving while intoxicated with a child passenger in your vehicle, know that this particular offense is considered a state jail felony, which means that you could be sentenced for up to two years in state jail and fined up to ten thousand dollars.
Automobile accidents can also increase the penalties associated with a DUI arrest. For example, if you are arrested for driving while intoxicated in connection with an accident where someone was seriously hurt and it is determined that your intoxication was the proximate cause of the victim’s injuries, you could be charged with intoxication assault, which is a third degree felony that is punishable by a sentence of two to ten years in jail and a fine of up to ten thousand dollars. If someone dies in an accident or because of other injuries that were caused by your intoxication, you could be charged with intoxication manslaughter. A person who is convicted of of intoxication manslaughter could face two to twenty years in jail and up to ten thousand dollars in fines.
Whether you have been charged with a standard DUI or a related offense which carries an enhanced penalty, it is important that you contact a Texas DUI Defense Attorney. Texas DUI Defense Attorney Alex Tyra is here to help you, so please call our office at (903) 753-7499, or contact us online via our website.
Financial considerations are an important part of every divorce case. It can be difficult to predict all of the ways in which your divorce will affect your finances, but it is important to try and anticipate at least some of them. Learning about the types of financial situations that can arise during divorce can help divorcing people prepare themselves for issues that may be relevant to their situation so that they can think about how they want to handle them in their divorce case.
One way in which divorce and finance are connected is that each person who gets divorced must choose whether they will retain an attorney to help them with their case or whether they will represent themselves in their divorce proceedings. If finances are tight, you may be wondering how you could ever justify spending money on attorneys’ fees. Retaining an attorney is more like making an investment than spending money, because representing yourself in your divorce could actually cost you more than you would pay in attorneys’ fees. For example, attorneys are often able to help couples settle their divorce cases instead of having a trial, which results in a lower total cost. An attorney can also advise you of the possible financial consequences of the decisions you will make during your divorce, so that you can make informed choices about how to proceed.
The cost of hiring a divorce attorney varies, so it is important that you obtain detailed estimates from the attorneys that you consult with as you look for someone who is a good fit for you. The estimate should include the fees that your attorney is likely to charge for each service associated with your divorce case, in addition to other costs that they anticipate will be a part of your divorce, such as fees for accountants and appraisers in cases with high-value assets.
In addition to retaining an attorney, you may want to consider working with a financial planner. A financial planner can give you in-depth advice regarding decisions that you may have to make during your divorce case, such as the likely short and long term consequences of accepting any particular settlement offer or pursuing any particular asset, such as the marital home. As is the case with retaining an attorney, money spent on obtaining the services of a financial planner is a sound investment because it is likely to decrease the total amount that your divorce will cost you.
Financial considerations are an important part of any Texas divorce. If you are considering divorce, Texas Family Law Attorney Alex Tyra can help you to understand the financial decisions that are part of your divorce case, and he can help you pursue a resolution of your divorce case that reflects the things that are most important to you. To learn more about the types of financial issues that are associated with divorce, please call us today, at (903) 753-7499.