Doing it one more time might be the ticket to the clinker if you don’t have a thoroughly competent criminal defense lawyer. Drinking and driving is a really dumb thing to do, however many people make that choice.

“It’s when these people get caught and realize they face some rather serious consequences that they call me,” said Daniel H. Wannamaker of Wannamaker Law, in Austin, Texas. Repeat offenders in Texas are those with at least two convictions, and they are classified as misdemeanors.

“Texas is a bearcat on repeat offenders, largely because we have just about the highest DWI rate in the country,” added Wannamaker who defends hundreds of these cases each year. He’s seen and heard just about everything in his over 20 years of practicing criminal defense in Austin, Texas. “In these cases, I’d prefer the person charged was only seen and not heard. My advice is to save anything you have to say and just tell me the circumstances of the case when you call me,” commented Wannamaker.

That is fine advice, and those that have chosen not to take it find out the hard way – what they said to the police at the scene has a way of coming back and haunting them. “Everything said to a police officer is taken down or recorded for use later. Telling them why you were out having a few drinks is tantamount to asking them to cuff you and take you to the station,” explained Wannamaker. Going to the station may happen anyway if you refuse to take any of the roadside sobriety tests when asked to take them.

“Don’t take those tests. You don’t have to and if you call me and I get there soon enough, I may be able to have the charges thrown out on a technicality and save your license,” indicated Wannamaker. While this is one option, the other may be if Wannamaker isn’t able to mitigate the charges, he may be able to negotiate a lesser sentence later, if the case goes to court.

Conviction means you are slated for an assessment for drug or alcohol addictions. At this point, if the person does have an addiction problem the judge may offer an either/or scenario – either rehab or jail.

“If someone hits three convictions, or more for DWI, they’re looking at a felony offense. It begins to make sense to some that rehab is the more attractive option,” said Wannamaker. Whether someone is faced with one charge or is on their second or third, this is the time to make a smart move and call a board certified criminal defense attorney, such as Daniel H. Wannamaker of Wannamaker Law in Austin, Texas. “They may still be convicted, but I am usually able to mitigate those charges and possibly ensure they are still allowed to drive for their work,” added Wannamaker.

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