DWI Plea Bargaining. A Good Idea?

Defending DWI arrests in Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, Collin, Rockwall and Rowlett counties, or anywhere in Texas.

Sometimes a plea bargain is the best way to handle a Texas DWI arrest. Sometimes you are better to go to trial with the most experience DWI attorney in Texas. Chris Hoover will help you determine which is best for you. The final decision is yours.

What is a Plea Bargain for DWI in Texas?

Plea bargaining describes two things:

  1. Negotiations between your attorney and the DA
  2. Resolution of your case by entering a plea of guilty or no contest to the charges against you.

About 85 percent of all criminal cases are disposed of by plea bargain agreement.

Plea Bargaining and Your Rights

A plea bargain is where you agree not to make the State prove you guilty by trial as you enter a plea of guilty or no contest. In exchange for you giving up this most valuable of American rights, the State offers you a punishment that you accept.

In DWI cases, probation is almost always offered for a DWI First or DWI Second. The only things to be negotiated are:

  • Length of probation (generally 12-24 months)
  • Amount of fine (generally $500- $1,000)
  • Number of Community Service hours (24-100 hours)
  • Time in jail if probation is violated (90-180 days)

A deep lung device (DLD) is required on all DWI Second, DWI Third or more cases, or if you took a breath test and scored 0.15 or more. This is Texas law and cannot be changed or avoided without very unusual facts.

Plea Bargaining is Giving Up

If you plea bargain your case, you are really pleading guilty and giving up on your case. This may be the correct decision in some DWI cases, but not all.

Chris Hoover will fully investigate your case and share with you all police reports, videos and any other important information. He will personally review these with you and tell you the good and the bad of your case as well as your chances of winning should you elect to fight your case and take it to trial. Chris Hoover has contested over 500 DWI cases and taken them to trial with very good and consistent results.