Austin DWI Attorney - Top 5 Firms in Austin

1-Dunham & Rogers: With an experience of more than 20 years, attorneys at Dunham & Rogers know fully well how to defend and win DWI cases. Another good thing about this law firm is that the fees are not too high and you can easily afford it.

2-Law Office of EG Morris: Texas Board of Legal Specialization has recently awarded EG Morris the designation of Criminal Law Specialist. In addition, he has also earned the prestigious AV rating from the Martindale Hubbell legal directory. With team members also been highly qualified, Law Office of EG Morris is a perfect DWI attorney firm for your DWI case. Customer service is also top class at Law Office of EG Morris.

3-KUHN, DOYLE, & KUHN: KUHN, DOYLE, & KUHN is an Austin based law firm that specializes in DWI. The best part about this law firm is that they do not charge any sort of consultation fee.

4-Ben Florey Law Offices: Unlike many law firms where individual attention is not given to the clients, Ben Florey Law offices give their clients individual attention, which is quite critical in handling of DWI cases.

5-IAN INGLIS Attorney at Law: Certified as criminal law specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Ian Inglis has an experience of more than 25 years in handling DWI cases. When you take the services of Ian Inglis, he will arrange an administrative license revocation hearing for you, which means that you are not going to loose your driving license.

DWI attorneys try their best to ensure their clients receive the minimum penalty possible but it is upto the client to be positive and generally truthful in their dealings with the attorney.

Sara Sentor Webmaster http://www.aboutdwi.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sara_Sentor

No refusal DWI policy in effect despite protestors

Not everyone was out for a good time Halloween night.

Protestors were out to voice their views of an Austin police no refusal DWI policy.

Austin police officers were out Friday night looking for drunk drivers and they weren't taking no for an answer.

Drivers who were pulled over were given a choice. They could take a breathalyzer test or a judge would issue a warrant for blood to be drawn to check their blood alcohol level.

The protestors believe the policy is a violation of civil rights. Austin police say it's legal and necessary to crack down on DWI.

"We're one of the last major cities in the state that has not had one of these (policies) yet. All the other large cities--I've spoken to Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and they do them all the time," Lt. David Mahoney said. "It's legal, you know what I mean. There hasn't been much challenge to it. There's a high conviction rate because blood is one of your best forms of evidence for DWI."

Lt. Mahoney said Austin police DWI unit has actually been using the system for years. This weekend is the first time the entire police force is making use of the warrants.

A trained phlebotomist was on hand to draw the blood. According to Mahoney, over 6,000 people were arrested for DWI in Austin last year.

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APD encourages drivers to play it safe over the holidays

Austin Police officers will be giving out fliers to drivers this month, as part of their Holiday DWI enforcement initiative.

The goal is to remind drivers, when they drink and drive, they put someone's life at risk.

"We want to put a face to the tragedy of DWI," DWI prevention advocate Gloria Souhami said. "This year we are honoring—we have fliers that are red and green for Christmas—we are honoring Kayla Marie Floyd, who was killed over a decade ago by an underage driver."

Kayla Marie Floyd was killed when she was 24 years old.

"She was a nurse and a model," mother Peggy Floyd said. "She participated in Ms. Texas pageants, and she was very busy doing things all the time."

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Austin police announce 'no refusal weekend'

If you drink and drive this weekend, Austin police say they will find proof through your breath or your blood. You can't refuse because this coming weekend will be a "no refusal weekend" in Austin.

On 6th Street in downtown Austin the decorations are out for the holiday weekend and the liquor shelves are full.

"It's gonna be crazy. It's gonna be nuts; lots of people out here," said Austinite Carlos Benavides.

Since Halloween falls on a Friday this year Austin police expect more on the party scene. They also expect more drunk drivers, but anyone caught driving drunk in Austin will face tighter scrutiny than ever before.

"We are willing to fight to make a difference," said Chief Art Acevedo, APD.

Chief Acevedo says this weekend will be the first time for a city-wide no refusal policy. Any driver that appears to be under the influence but refuses to take a breath test will instead have their blood drawn.

An officer will get a search warrant for a blood sample and then take the driver to the Travis County jail where a professional phlebotomist will take a blood sample.

"It seems just a little bit extreme," said Austinite Natalie Zoe.

The police department says its numbers prove otherwise.

Last year, when Halloween fell on a Wednesday night, Austin police made 21 DWI arrests. That's the same amount they usually make on an average Saturday night.

“We are the worst state in the union for DWI, we're the hardest drinking city in the union,” said Chief Acevedo.

The ‘no-refusal” policy isn't new to Central Texas.

“I think it's beneficial to everybody around to get the drunk drivers off the road,” said Gloria Farrow, who supports the policy.

Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley says the county already mandates blood search warrants on felony DWI charges, when a driver already has two DWI convictions.

“We need the right to investigate that case and prove whether someone is intoxicated,” said Bradley.

Others disagree and say police need to find another way to catch drunk drivers.

“They have other tests. They have sobriety tests. They have their field tests I mean they have their breathalyzer test. There (are) other things they can do,” said Benavides.

“You can take them to jail anyway if they refuse a breathalyzer and that takes them right off the street,” said Nick Kriofske, who doesn’t support the policy.

Drivers can refuse sobriety tests and opt for jail instead, but police say without proof of a driver's alcohol level, it's difficult to prosecute a DWI charge.

Chief Acevedo says the city-wide “no-refusal” policy could become permanent if this weekend's test-run catches more drunk drivers.

source

Austin police announce 'no refusal weekend'

If you drink and drive this weekend, Austin police say they will find proof through your breath or your blood. You can't refuse because this coming weekend will be a "no refusal weekend" in Austin.

On 6th Street in downtown Austin the decorations are out for the holiday weekend and the liquor shelves are full.

"It's gonna be crazy. It's gonna be nuts; lots of people out here," said Austinite Carlos Benavides.

Since Halloween falls on a Friday this year Austin police expect more on the party scene. They also expect more drunk drivers, but anyone caught driving drunk in Austin will face tighter scrutiny than ever before.

"We are willing to fight to make a difference," said Chief Art Acevedo, APD.

Chief Acevedo says this weekend will be the first time for a city-wide no refusal policy. Any driver that appears to be under the influence but refuses to take a breath test will instead have their blood drawn.

An officer will get a search warrant for a blood sample and then take the driver to the Travis County jail where a professional phlebotomist will take a blood sample.

"It seems just a little bit extreme," said Austinite Natalie Zoe.

The police department says its numbers prove otherwise.

Last year, when Halloween fell on a Wednesday night, Austin police made 21 DWI arrests. That's the same amount they usually make on an average Saturday night.

“We are the worst state in the union for DWI, we're the hardest drinking city in the union,” said Chief Acevedo.

The ‘no-refusal” policy isn't new to Central Texas.

“I think it's beneficial to everybody around to get the drunk drivers off the road,” said Gloria Farrow, who supports the policy.

Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley says the county already mandates blood search warrants on felony DWI charges, when a driver already has two DWI convictions.

“We need the right to investigate that case and prove whether someone is intoxicated,” said Bradley.

Others disagree and say police need to find another way to catch drunk drivers.

“They have other tests. They have sobriety tests. They have their field tests I mean they have their breathalyzer test. There (are) other things they can do,” said Benavides.

“You can take them to jail anyway if they refuse a breathalyzer and that takes them right off the street,” said Nick Kriofske, who doesn’t support the policy.

Drivers can refuse sobriety tests and opt for jail instead, but police say without proof of a driver's alcohol level, it's difficult to prosecute a DWI charge.

Chief Acevedo says the city-wide “no-refusal” policy could become permanent if this weekend's test-run catches more drunk drivers.

source

Austin police: Teen drunk driver hit pregnant woman

Austin police said a man that was driving while intoxicated slammed into the right side of a car in a Wendy's Drive-Thru, injuring a pregnant woman sitting in the passenger seat.

The Austin Police Department said they have charged Manuel Grijalva, 18, with failure to stop and render aid after they said he slammed his Chevy suburban into the side a car in which Melissa Muniz was a passenger. Muniz's car was waiting at the drive-thru at the Wendy's on 2224 East Riverside Dr. A witness say the suburban didn't stop after hitting the other car, but continued on down Riverside Drive.

After the accident, Muniz said she had severe abdominal pain and was transported to the hospital. She was released Wednesday morning.

Police stopped Grijalva's car shortly after the accident and said they noticed that Grijalva was intoxicated. He then admitted to running into the other car. According to an affidavit, Grijalva ran because he was scared; he is under the legal age to drink.

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APD officer suspended after DWI arrest

An Austin police officer has been suspended for 45 days after he was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated.

The incident happened in August. APD officers arrested Officer Vernon Stevenson after he was involved in a crash.

Internal Affairs ordered blood samples, according to a memo from Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo, which showed Stevenson's blood alcohol level was .224 and .226.

According to the memo, Stevenson also agreed to a one year probation, and if he commits a similar act he will be fired. He will also submit to random alcohol testing for the next two years.

Stevenson waived his right to appeal the suspension.

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Inspector faked records, leaving Houston-area DWI tests in doubt, agency says

AUSTIN – At least 2,600 Houston-area DWI arrests are now in question, after a Department of Public Safety contractor allegedly failed to inspect breath test equipment and faked records to show that she had.

"It's unbelievable, it's like Christmas came early," said Tyler Flood, a Houston criminal defense lawyer who works predominantly in DWIs. "We will try to reopen any cases that resulted in convictions from a breath test."

Breath test instruments must be checked and calibrated once a month to ensure their readings are accurate. DPS officials said they believe the contractor, whom they haven't named, may have been falsifying inspection records for up to a year at eight Houston-area police departments.

The woman, who was altering reports to indicate that she had recently inspected equipment, was not working in any other parts of the state.

"Once DPS found reason to believe that these records had been altered, we suspended the supervisor's certification and opened up a criminal investigation," said Col. Stan Clark, interim director of DPS. "These are serious allegations, and we will not tolerate any activities that call into question the integrity of the breath test system."

DPS officials say anyone who believes they were wrongly charged or convicted should talk to their attorney. The affected departments are the Galveston, League City, Friendswood, Clute, Pearland, Webster and Seabrook police departments, as well as the South Houston Police Department.

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Priest convicted of drunk driving in Bastrop restaurant crash

A Catholic priest who drove his truck into a crowded Smithville restaurant in 2007 has been convicted of drunk driving, but he escaped jail time.

Priest convicted

KVUE's Clara Tuma reports

November 13th, 2008 > More Local Video

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Father Karel Fink, 62, was sentenced to 180 days in the Bastrop County Jail, but County Court-at-Law Judge Benton Eskew probated that time for two years, pursuant to terms of a plea bargain agreed to by Fink and Bastrop County District Attorney Bryan Goertz.

"This was about as bad a misdemeanor DWI as I can imagine," Goertz said. "I feel very comfortable with the terms of the plea."

In addition to the two years of probation, Fink must pay $29,042.10 in restitution and a $1,500 fine; take courses in DWI education and danger without intention; perform 24 hours community service; attend in-patient treatment and follow-up care for alcoholism; attend regular AA meetings; and take antabuse daily. Antabuse is a drug that will make people who take it ill if they drink alcohol.

Goertz said Fink attended in-patient treatment for alcoholism shortly after the incident.

"Mr. Fink is a 62-year-old individual who in his past history seemingly had a problem with alcohol, although this would be the first alcohol-related offense that I'm aware of," he said. "With no prior criminal history, what you hope is that the criminal justice system can put a person on the right track to where society is safe from this every happening at his hands again."

On June 18, 2007, Fink drove his pickup into the crowded La Cabana restaurant in Smithville. Officials said his blood alcohol level was at least twice the legal limit.

At least 10 people were injured, including Donald Jerrels and his wife, Marcia, who attended Fink's hearing Thursday.

"I don't think he got enough time for what he done," Fink said. "He caused too much injury."

A spokesman for the Catholic Diocese in Austin said Fink has been reassigned from the church in Smithville he pastored at the time of the wreck, to a church in Killeen.

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