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DWI Process

The DWI Process in Texas

Explained by a Sugar Land DWI Attorney

For 25 years, Attorney Stornello has been practicing law in Fort Bend County. We have tried hundreds of cases and are committed to representing our clients with the most effective and efficient legal counsel possible. Many times, our clients have come to us after having been charged with a DWI and want to know what the process is moving forward. Below is an outline of a standard DWI case, and how it moves through the system.

We are prepared to fight for you. Call our criminal defense firm for aggressive defense 
against misdemeanor or felony charges.

The Process in a DWI Charge

When you are charged with a DWI in Texas, the first court appearance or scheduled date is an arraignment and the court will formally announce the charges against you, and request you to enter a plea of either guilty, not guilty, or no contest. Your conditions of release or bond may be set, including the possibility of having to wear an ankle monitor, installing an ignition interlock device on your car, or submitting to random urine testing during the pendency of your case. Our lawyers will file discovery motions to force the State to hand over copies of the DWI videotape, police report, lab tests, DIC forms, and any other evidence they have in the State's possession.

Before trial, a pre-trial hearing is set. At that pre-trial hearing our Sugar Land defense lawyer will have the opportunity to argue motions to suppress evidence and other preliminary matters that may arise after investigating the facts of your case. If the case has not been resolved after the pre-trial phase, the court will set a trial date.

What If My DWI Case Goes to Trial?

A DWI trial does not usually take very long, usually a half day to two days at the most. To sustain a conviction against you, the state must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Many times during cross examination of the state's witnesses, we are able to develop that reasonable doubt in the mind of the fact finder, which will either be a judge or a jury depending upon your case. There are often many ways to challenge the evidence leveraged by prosecution. Pointing out the mistakes in a police stop, field tests, chemical testing, and the arrest procedure are typical strategies that could be successful to derail the state's case and possibly have the jury or judge return a finding of not guilty.

For more information, please visit our frequently asked questions page or contact our firm for a free initial consultation. Our Sugar Land defense lawyer have been practicing DWI law throughout Fort Bend County for 25 years, and has earned respect and admiration of the legal community and our clients for our dedication to defending the accused.

Schedule your initial case evaluation today with our firm today!

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