How Can This New Law Affect First-Time DWI Offenders In Texas?

When representing someone who has been charged with a DWI, our number one priority is to obtain the best outcome possible, which sometimes means seeking a verdict of not guilty at trial. In some cases, a conviction is inevitable no matter how hard we try to fight it. If we have a case that we don’t believe is strong enough to win at trial, then we may consider deferred adjudication probation as an option. Avoiding a DWI conviction is important for many people who would suffer from the negative impacts of having a criminal record. For example, nursing students or other professionals seeking professional accreditation and members of the military could lose their careers as a result of a DWI conviction; such individuals may avoid a conviction by taking advantage of deferred adjudication probation.

With that said, anyone who is seeking employment that may be regulated by a state licensing agency should ensure that they are upfront with the employer. This is because even if someone successfully completes deferred adjudication probation and takes the additional steps to have the case sealed through an order of non-disclosure, that does not mean that the licensing board will not be able to see that the arrest occurred and that probation was sentenced. I always advise my clients to contact me if they are unsure about how to answer questions on applications that inquire about past convictions. This is important, because answering such questions incorrectly could disqualify a person for a job or professional license.

For more information on Impact Of New Law On DWI First Offenders, a free case evaluation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (512) 478-9898 today.