As any DWI attorney can attest to, you will first and foremost take a heavy financial hit should you be convicted of your DWI charges. You could pay fines ranging from $350 all the way to $1,500, and will also see the negative financial effects on your insurance premiums which could go up hundreds of dollars per year for the next seven to ten years. The monetary costs of a DWI conviction can be devastating to the average person. Next, your driver’s license could be in serious jeopardy—you could lose your license for a period of six months or as long as ten years. You could spend time in jail, ranging from one night to months, or even years if another person was injured due to your impaired driving. Again, having a reputable DWI attorney in your corner can make all the difference in how your charges play out.

Aside from these penalties, the court could mandate that you have an ignition interlock device put into your vehicle, or your vehicle could even be confiscated. You could be required to attend drug rehab or sentenced to community service and could likely be placed on probation. In addition to all these negative effects, there is the social stigma you may suffer should you be convicted of DWI. A DWI conviction could prevent you from getting a promotion or getting a job you really want, and, in some cases, could actually cause you to lose the job you have. As you can see, the effects of a DWI conviction are serious and far-reaching, and absolutely require the services of a top-notch Houston DWI attorney. The attorneys of Sullo and Sullo, LLP are ready to hit the ground running, mounting a professional and skilled defense on your behalf.

Many people simply don’t believe they will be convicted of a DWI, so fail to treat the charges with the seriousness they warrant. They may feel confident that the breath test was incorrect, or, if they tested a bit below the legal limit of .08 may feel there is no need to hire a Houston DWI attorney. While it is true that most DWIs are misdemeanors, they are also among the toughest misdemeanor charge to defend even though the punishments are generally less than those for felony convictions.

As far as any reading under .08% being safe—this is far and away the most common DWI myth perpetuated—and the most dangerous to believe. While it is not particularly common, you can be both charged and convicted of DWI with a BAC of less than the legal limit. The .08% limit is simply a reference point. You are legally presumed to be too impaired to drive if your BAC is at this point or higher, and once your blood or breath prove you to be above this point, it becomes your responsibility to prove the results were in some way inaccurate. The best DWI defense lawyers will use their considerable knowledge and expertise to find any mistake made on the part of the arresting officer whether it relates to lack of probable cause or improperly administered breath or blood test.

The attorneys at Sullo & Sullo think it’s important that you know that even with a BAC of less than .08%--or with no test results at all—you can still be arrested if the State can definitively prove your ability to drive was affected by the alcohol you consumed. The theory behind this is that alcohol tolerance varies greatly from person to person, and, that in some cases, a person with a .05% BAC may be as impaired as the person who blew .08. True, the state will have to work for such a conviction, but it can and does happen. Having a DWI defense attorney with a proven track record of successes can be critical in such a situation.

Many people are under the false belief that if they fully cooperate with the officer and pass the field sobriety tests the officer will send them home. Keep in mind that roadside sobriety tests are not designed for you to pass, and, in fact, many sober people are unable to pass these tests.

In truth, the officer has likely already made up his mind regarding your guilt when he pulled you over, and believing the officer will be sympathetic if you tell him you “only had two drinks” is yet another major mistake. There is a reason you are advised by Miranda that you have the right to remain silent. The biggest obstacle for many DWI defense lawyers is overcoming the evidence freely given to the police officer by their client—then promptly used against them.

Should you be arrested for DWI, it is vitally important to your future that you retain a knowledgeable DWI attorney as quickly as possible. In the meantime, hold on to your right to remain silent, and don’t provide any evidence against yourself. A DWI conviction can significantly alter your life in ways you will regret for many years to come. Contact Sullo & Sullo, LLP today and let them work aggressively to minimize the potential harm.