If you or someone you love has been charged with drunk driving we know you probably have a number of questions. Most people have never been through the criminal process and therefore do not know what to expect at their court appearances. Each county has different policies and procedures. The professional DWI attorneys at The Law Office of Troy P. Burleson, P.C. practice in the Dallas County Courts on a daily basis. Therefore, we have the knowledge to explain what you should expect at each of your court settings and guide you effectively through the Dallas DWI process. Below is a summary of the Dallas DWI court process. For a review of what to expect from the Dallas County DWI Process, read the information below from our website www.dwidallaslawyer.com.
The Criminal Prosecution of DWI
In Texas, a first offense DWI is a Class B Misdemeanor that carries a range of punishment of not less than 72 hours or more than 180 days confinement in the county jail, a fine not to exceed $2,000.00 or any combination of fine and jail time. The good news is that most DWI offenders never go back to jail after the night of their arrest. Typically, people convicted of DWI are placed on probation for a period of 12-24 months. As long as the person complied with the terms and conditions of his or her probation, no more jail time occurs.
Do not expect to resolve your DWI case at your first court appearance. Several court appearances usually occur before your case is disposed.
First Appearance
The first time you will be required to go to court is know as a "First Appearance" setting. In DallasCounty, the first appearance setting will normally be 40 to 60 days after the date or your arrest. At the first appearance, you will inform the court whether or not you have hired an attorney. If you have hired an attorney then he or she will meet with the prosecutors about your case. Your attorney will then begin the process of requesting copies of any police reports, witness statements, videos and any other evidence in the prosecutor's possession. After that, the court will give you a new court date for your first "announcement" setting. You WILL NOT be required to enter a plea or set your case for trial at the first appearance setting. Typically, you will do no more than sit in the gallery of the court during the first appearance process in Dallas. NOTE: If you hire us, you most likely will not have to go to court for any setting except for a plea setting or a trial setting. We will handle them on your behalf.
