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.

The laws of the United States and the laws of each individual state apply to everyone, whether or not they are a United States citizen. However, some people face more serious consequences than others would if they are convicted of the same crime. If you are a United States citizen and you commit a crime, you may receive any or all of the penalties that state or federal law sets forth as punishments for the crime that you have committed. If you are an immigrant, you may receive the same penalties that a citizen would, as well as other penalties that could put your ability to remain in the United States at risk.

If you are an immigrant and you have been charged with a crime, there is a lot at stake. You are facing harsh penalties, as well as immigration-related penalties that could drastically affect your ability to remain in the United States with your family and friends and pursue the dreams and goals that you have been working towards during your time in the United States. Since there is so much at stake, it is absolutely essential that you retain an experienced Texas Criminal Defense Attorney. In addition to pursuing the best possible outcome in your criminal matter, your Texas Criminal Defense Attorney may be able to help you obtain relief from the immigration-related consequences associated with the crimes that you have been charged with.

In criminal cases, defendants are often presented with options for resolving their criminal matters which could provide a better outcome for them than a criminal trial would. It can be difficult for any defendant to understand these options, but Texas Criminal Defense Attorneys help defendants decide whether any of the options would work well for them by explaining them in the context of what the overall impact of choosing a proposed course of action is likely to be. If you are an immigrant, your attorney can help you understand the options that are available to you by explaining the way that choosing a particular course of action will affect each area of your life, including your immigration status. When you have a clear picture of the possible ways that you could choose to resolve your criminal matter and how each option is likely to work out for you, it is much easier to make a decision that will bring you the best overall result.

Texas Criminal Defense Attorneys know that immigrant defendants have a lot at stake. If you are an immigrant who has been charged with a crime, Texas Criminal Defense Attorney Alex Tyra may be able to help you. It is possible that the penalties that you are facing right now, including any consequences that are related to immigration, could be avoided or reduced. 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.