Texas DWI Lawyers & DWI Laws
A DWI arrest in Texas starts two separate cases. The criminal one runs through the courts. A second one runs at the state licensing agency on its own clock, and it moves first. The attorney directory for Texas is being built.
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Show all 96 Texas cities
- Abilene10
- Addison133
- Allen78
- Alvin16
- Amarillo13
- Angleton16
- Anna78
- Arlington118
- Austin122
- Baytown214
- Beaumont17
- Bedford118
- Bellaire214
- Belton10
- Bryan19
- Colleyville118
- Conroe37
- Coppell133
- Crowley118
- Dallas135
- Denton44
- Edinburg17
- El Paso32
- Euless118
- Fort Worth118
- Frisco79
- Garland133
- Grapevine118
- Haltom City118
- Houston214
- Humble214
- Hurst118
- Killeen10
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- Lakeway121
- Lubbock26
- Manor121
- Mansfield118
- McAllen17
- McKinney78
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- Pasadena214
- Pearland16
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- San Antonio106
- Sanger44
- Southlake118
- Spring217
- Stafford23
- Taylor26
- Temple10
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- Tyler21
- Waco16
Show all 35 Texas counties
- Bell3 cities
- Bexar1 city
- Brazoria3 cities
- Brazos2 cities
- Cameron2 cities
- Collin6 cities
- Comal1 city
- Dallas7 cities
- Denton8 cities
- Ector1 city
- El Paso1 city
- Ellis2 cities
- Fort Bend3 cities
- Galveston5 cities
- Grayson1 city
- Gregg1 city
- Harris7 cities
- Hays2 cities
- Henderson2 cities
- Hidalgo3 cities
- Jefferson2 cities
- Lubbock1 city
- McLennan1 city
- Midland1 city
- Montgomery2 cities
- Nueces1 city
- Parker2 cities
- Potter1 city
- Rockwall2 cities
- Smith1 city
- Tarrant12 cities
- Taylor1 city
- Travis3 cities
- Webb1 city
- Williamson4 cities
A city appears here once we can tell you which court hears its cases and who practices there. A page without both would waste your time at the worst possible moment.
DWI Lawyers Serving Texas
We are still adding Texas lawyers. We list someone only once we have confirmed they are currently licensed in the state, which takes a little time.
If you need someone this week, and the license deadline means you probably do, ask any DWI defense lawyer licensed in Texas whether they handle cases in your county.
Two cases, three license actions
The case about your license
Tex. Transp. Code 524.031
The suspension takes effect and the right to contest it is lost. A timely request holds the suspension until the hearing is decided.
Texas Department of Public Safety
Penalties by offense tier
| Tier | Classification | Lookback |
|---|---|---|
| DWI, first offense Tex. Penal Code 49.04(a), (b) | Class B misdemeanor | Not recorded |
| DWI with an open container Tex. Penal Code 49.04(c) | Class B misdemeanor | Not recorded |
| DWI with alcohol concentration 0.15 or more Tex. Penal Code 49.04(d) | Class A misdemeanor | Not recorded |
| DWI in a school crossing zone Tex. Penal Code 49.04(e) | State jail felony (felony) | Not recorded |
| DWI with a passenger younger than 15 Tex. Penal Code 49.045 | State jail felony (felony) | Not recorded |
| DWI, second offense Tex. Penal Code 49.09(a) | Class A misdemeanor | Not recorded |
| DWI, third offense (felony) Tex. Penal Code 49.09(b) | Felony of the third degree (felony) | Not recorded |
Common questions
- Do I have two separate cases after a DWI arrest?
- Yes. One is the criminal case, which runs through the courts and takes months. The other is an administrative case about your license, which runs at the state agency on its own timetable and starts straight away. Winning one does not settle the other.
- What happens if I miss the hearing request deadline?
- The suspension takes effect on its own, without anyone reviewing whether it should. This is the step people miss most often, because the court date feels like the official one and the license notice looks like paperwork.
- Does the criminal charge being dropped save my license?
- Not by itself. The agency applies a lower standard than a criminal court and answers a different question, so the license action can stand even where the charge does not.
- Do I need a lawyer for a first DWI arrest in Texas?
- Not everyone does, and the cost is worth weighing honestly. What compresses the decision is the license deadline, which falls long before the criminal case gets going. Decide within the first week rather than waiting for a court date.
Sources
Tex. Penal Code 49.04(a), (b) · Tex. Penal Code 49.04(c) · Tex. Penal Code 49.04(d) · Tex. Penal Code 49.04(e) · Tex. Penal Code 49.045 · Tex. Penal Code 49.09(a) · Tex. Penal Code 49.09(b) · Tex. Transp. Code 524.031
This page is general information, not legal advice. Statutes change. Confirm anything you rely on with a licensed Texas attorney.