Sarah Edwards is a seasoned legal writer with more than a decade of experience. Edwards has a deep understanding of advanced legal concepts and a knack for conveying complex topics in simple language. She currently resides in Southern California with her husband and two children.
Sarah Edwards
Sarah Edwards is a seasoned legal writer with more than a decade of experience. Edwards has a deep understanding of advanced legal concepts and a knack for conveying complex topics in simple language. She currently resides in Southern California with her husband and two children.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
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Jeffrey Johnson, J.D.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Fort Worth police work aggressively to stop DUIs. Between sobriety checkpoints and “no refusal” weekends, it can be easy for someone to get arrested—even if the DUI case is flawed.
If you are facing a DUI charge in Texas, you need a top-tier lawyer to protect your rights. This guide will help you hire one of the best DUI lawyers in Fort Worth.
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Best DUI Attorneys in Fort Worth
Compare Top DUI Attorneys
DUI Laws in Texas
Driving under the influence (DUI) is against the law in every state. However, just as other laws and penalties change state by state, so do DUI laws. Although Texas has a reputation for having loose alcohol laws, it has some of the strictest DUI laws in the country. Here’s information about DUI laws in Texas that all drivers should know.
Legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) in Texas
The legal BAC for driving in Texas is the same as in most other states: 0.08%. The average person will reach that BAC after drinking between two and four bottles of beer, glasses of wine or shots of hard alcohol. Factors like weight and gender affect the number of drinks needed to reach the legal limit.
Additionally, Texas has a zero-tolerance law for minors. There is no legal BAC for anyone who is under the legal drinking age. If there is any detectable amount of alcohol in their blood, they will be arrested for a DUIA by a Minor.
Implied Consent Laws in Texas
A driver’s license is a privilege, not a right. Therefore, the state can revoke a driver’s license even when a driver hasn’t been convicted of a crime. One instance of this is the implied consent laws in Texas.
Many states have implied consent laws. The law in Texas requires drivers to submit to either a blood test or a breathalyzer test after they are arrested for a DUI.
There is a serious consequence for drivers who refuse this test: The state can suspend the driver’s license for 180 days to two years. The suspension is longer if the driver has previously refused a test, failed a test or been convicted of a DWI.
Every driver agrees to these consequences as part of getting a driver’s license. However, drivers can’t be forced to submit to either of these tests without a court order. Additionally, the license suspension can be contested at a hearing before an administrative law judge.
DUI Penalties in Texas
The DUI penalties in Texas are relatively easy to understand. Typically, an offender will receive penalties based on how many previous DUI offenses they have been convicted of. Some penalties also increase if the driver has a BAC of over 0.15%.
Judges have a lot of discretion when assigning penalties. This is one of the reasons why it’s important to have a good DUI lawyer representing you after an arrest.
First DUI Offense
The penalties for a DUI are the least severe after a first offense. However, even for the first offense, jail time is mandatory. The penalties are:
- Jail Time: 72 hours to six months (the maximum increases to 12 months with a BAC of 0.15% or higher)
- Fines: Up to $2,000 (the maximum increases to $4,000 with a BAC of 0.15% or higher)
- Suspended License: 90 days to 12 months
- Ignition Interlock Device: May be ordered as a condition of an occupational license
A first offense is charged as a misdemeanor.
Second DUI Offense
The penalties for a second offense increase significantly. However, fines are not yet mandatory for this offense. The penalties are:
- Jail Time: Between 30 days and 12 months
- Fines: Up to $4,000
- Suspended License: Six months to two years
- Ignition Interlock Device: Must install the device for one year after the license is restored if the prior conviction was within five years of this one
BAC level doesn’t matter for a second offense and beyond. A second offense is also charged as a misdemeanor.
Third DUI Offense and Beyond
Once an offender is facing a third offense, the penalties become more severe. Someone convicted of a third offense will spend multiple years in prison. The penalties are:
- Jail Time: Between 2 and 10 years
- Fines: Up to $10,000
- Suspended License: Six months to two years
- Ignition Interlock Device: Must install the device for one year after the license is restored if any prior conviction was within five years of this one
A third offense and all later offenses are charged as felonies if any of the prior offenses were within 10 years of this conviction. Otherwise, they are classified as misdemeanors.
What to Expect After a DUI Arrest in Texas
If you are arrested for a DUI, the police will read you your rights and book you. As part of the process, they will advise you of your rights regarding the blood test and breathalyzer. Once you have been advised of your rights, you will be asked if you want to submit to either test. You can refuse, but there will likely be consequences for your driver’s license.
You have the right to request a lawyer at any point, and you can refuse to speak to the police without a lawyer present. Your lawyer would prefer you do this because it will make their job easier.
After you have been processed, you will receive a bond hearing. If you are charged with a misdemeanor, this hearing must happen within 24 hours of your arrest. However, if you are charged with a felony, it can take up to 48 hours.
After that, your trial will be scheduled. Many cases never go to trial, though. Typically, attorneys negotiate a plea deal or get the charges dismissed before trial.
How Can an Attorney Help You?
Your attorney might seek to have the charges dismissed if possible. This approach could succeed if the police didn’t follow proper procedures while arresting you or if there isn’t enough evidence for a conviction.
If that tactic is not successful, your attorney will try to preserve as much freedom for you as possible. This means they will try to minimize jail time, get you an occupational license and fight any automatic license suspension.
How to Choose the Best DUI Lawyer in Fort Worth, TX
The DUI attorneys in this list are all highly experienced attorneys with excellent records. But they all approach cases differently. These differences matter when choosing an attorney. You should consider which of the following factors affect your case before choosing a lawyer.
- Language Fluency. If you are a native speaker of another language, an attorney who speaks that language fluently can better explain your legal options.
- Trial Experience. Some lawyers have exceptional negotiation skills but little trial experience. If this is not your first DUI arrest, this trial experience could be even more important.
- Practice Location. Were you arrested outside of Tarrant County? If so, you need a lawyer who practices law in the location where you were arrested.
Methodology
To determine this list of the Best DUI Lawyers in Fort Worth of 2023, Forbes Advisor considered many factors. Forbes Advisor’s mathematical analysis considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we consider factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses and certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education and employment background
- Scholarly lectures and writings
- Awards and honors
Forbes Advisory collects public data from a variety of sources, including state bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. This information should not be considered comprehensive, however. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Remember that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds but does not evaluate their personalities or knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially tricky legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Will I lose my right to vote if convicted of a DUI?
You lose your right to vote in Texas if convicted of a felony DUI. You won’t get it back until you complete your sentence and any probation or parole.
Can I get a DUI conviction expunged from my record?
If you are a first-time offender, had a BAC below 0.15%, didn’t get into an accident and have completed all the terms of your sentence, you can petition to have your conviction expunged. This will seal the record but not remove it.
What is the difference between a DWI and a DUI?
DUI means “driving under the influence.” DWI means “driving while intoxicated.” The latter is the official term for the criminal charge in Texas, but most people (even lawyers) use them interchangeably.
