Sometimes Good People Make Mistakes. You Deserve The Best Legal Defense You Can Get.

Arrested? Don't Say a Word to the Police – Call Wilder Law Firm First

Sometimes Good People Make Mistakes. You Deserve The Best Legal Defense You Can Get.

Arrested? Don't Say a Word to the Police – Call Wilder Law Firm First

Plano Felony DWI Defense Lawyer

Serving Clients Throughout Texas including Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Prosper, Dallas, Collin County, Dallas County, Denton County, and Tarrant County.

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    Wilder Law DWI Texas Brand

    Plano Felony DWI Defense Lawyer

    Serving Clients Throughout Texas including Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Prosper, Dallas, Collin County, Dallas County, Denton County, and Tarrant County.

    Do You Need Legal Help?

      TESTIMONIALS

      What Our Clients Say

      I was arrested for DWI and did not know what to do. I did not have any direction, as I had not dealt with this before. I chose Wilder Law Firm after searching all over the internet. After the in-person consultation, I knew I could trust Doug and his team to handle my case with confidence. They arranged for me to get things done that I would need, to make sure that I had the best chance at success in the courtroom and moving forward. When it was time for my case to come to an end, they made sure that everything was transparent before I ever stepped foot in front of the Judge, and that I understood what was going on. I was able to get a game plan together to avoid this showing on my record and was able to move forward into getting everything done on a timely manner. They were also able to make sure this didn’t affect any of my other legal issue that were ongoing. The Wilder Law Firm has helped me out every step of the way through this grueling process and taken a lot of the guess work out. Thank you for your help!

      Gus Raney
      Client

      I was recently facing allegations of a DWI. It was through his great reviews, which ultimately led me to reaching out for a consultation. Doug seemed well versed in the laws associated with DWIs and was a pleasure to meet with. Doug and the team there at Wilder Law Firm were great to work with, as they have a very personal touch and I felt like they gave me great advice to assist with my case. Amy and the team were always available to answer my MANY questions and explain why they were making their recommendations of coursework for me to do, prior to going to court. As a result of this I have stopped drinking all together, and we were able to negotiate a plea to reduce my conviction to a lesser class and minimized my probation. Thank you to everyone who helped with my case!

      Ben Joseph
      Client

      PROTECTING YOUR RIGHTS AND FUTURE

      The Significance of a Strong Criminal Defense Team

      PROTECTING YOUR RIGHTS AND FUTURE

      The Significance of a Strong Criminal Defense Team

      Merely accused of a Texas law violation can profoundly impact life due to distressing arrests and aggressive interrogation tactics. Engaging a skilled attorney like Wilder Law Firm is vital for protecting your rights and securing a better legal outcome amidst potential lifelong consequences of a conviction.

      Merely accused of a Texas law violation can profoundly impact life due to distressing arrests and aggressive interrogation tactics. Engaging a skilled attorney like Wilder Law Firm is vital for protecting your rights and securing a better legal outcome amidst potential lifelong consequences of a conviction.

      PROTECTING YOUR RIGHTS AND FUTURE

      The Significance of a Strong Criminal Defense Team

      Merely accused of a Texas law violation can profoundly impact life due to distressing arrests and aggressive interrogation tactics. Engaging a skilled attorney like Wilder Law Firm is vital for protecting your rights and securing a better legal outcome amidst potential lifelong consequences of a conviction.

      DOWNLOAD OUR FREE DWI GUIDE

      Texas DWI Survival Guide: Prevent These 9 Costly Errors

      Plano Felony DWI Defense Lawyer

      When you are facing your third (or more) DWI charge, the possible penalties are very severe. Your freedom and future are on the line, as you are looking at the potential of becoming a convicted felon and/or going to prison. A felony DWI arrest does not mean you will get convicted, and now is the time to be proactive in defending yourself. That starts by hiring a lawyer who will be dedicated to not only perfecting your defense, but to advise you on what to do while your case is pending.

      By hiring The Wilder Law Firm, you will be putting our more than 25 years of experience and dedication to work for you. We will meticulously review all facets of your case, while perfecting the most effective defense for your situation. We will advise you on a course of action you should take to help us put you in the best possible position going forward. It is imperative to contact our office as soon as possible. Call The Wilder Law Firm immediately and let us fight for you.

      What Is a Felony DWI?

      There are a few common situations in which a DWI is charged as a felony under Texas Penal Code 49.09. They include:

      A Third or More DWI Charge

      DWI with a Child

      Intoxication Assault

      Intoxication Manslaughter

      We Know How to Defend You

      With over 25 years practicing criminal law, we have fought felony DWI cases, and we know how to defend them. There are many options available for a felony DWI defense, and we will explore all of them to find the best fit for your situation. Here are just a few ways we will establish your defense:

      Legality of the stop

      What is normal

      Sobriety testing

      Chemical testing

      Police conduct

      Better safe than sorry, it’s their third or more

      Validity of priors used for felony enhance

      Legality of the Stop

      The police have to have a legal basis to contact you or pull you over. Pulling out of a bar at 12:30 in the morning may get their attention, but that alone does not justify pulling you over. Have you ever been given a ticket for a traffic violation you did not commit? At times, officers make mistakes in how they view potential traffic violations when pulling people over. Whether accidental or intentional, a bad stop is a bad stop, regardless if you are intoxicated or not. I have won cases where officers claimed my client was following too closely, had a license plate light out, had a headlight out, stopped past the stop line at a red light, or failed to maintain a single lane of traffic, only for my investigation to prove such conduct did not occur.

      What Is Normal?

      How normal would you expect someone to act if they were pulled over after having a few drinks and then investigated for felony DWI? This can be one of the most stressful situations, and people will respond differently. What is normal for you most likely will not be what is normal for me, but the police will hold us to the same standard. They have a strict expectation of how everyone should act and perform on sobriety tests when being investigated for DWI, and anything less than perfection will be held against you.

      Wilder Law Firm assists people with criminal defense matters in the following locations: Carrollton, Dallas, Frisco, Garland, Lewisville, McKinney, Prosper, Plano, Richardson, Sachse, and Wylie.

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      Sobriety Testing

      There are many issues surrounding sobriety testing that can affect the validity of the results. The police are trained that sobriety tests only identify impairment and do not identify sobriety. If a test only identifies impairment, then you must perform that test 100% perfectly in order for it not to be held against you. This means that any difficulty due to not being naturally coordinated will be taken as a sign of impairment. Any difficulty naturally caused by age, the weather, wind, road surface, traffic, or just being freaked out will be taken as a sign of impairment.

      When it comes to sobriety testing, you need to understand you are really being tested for your coordination in an extremely stressful situation, when you know you have your future on the line. It is this type of environment that can make perfection very difficult to obtain, yet you are acting normal for the circumstances.

      Chemical Testing

      When a chemical test is completed, the alleged alcohol concentration is printed on a sheet of paper (i.e. lab report), but that printout does not tell the whole story of how that number got there. The printout does not indicate if the sample tested was legally obtained. The printout does not indicate if the chemist who tested the sample followed all of the proper procedures and protocols. I never just rely on the printed number. I investigate everything to determine how valid or reliable the results are so you are not affected by unreliable numbers.

      Police Conduct

      The competency and professionalism (or lack thereof) of the police officers and their investigation play a role in how the evidence against you will be viewed. An officer who leaves a bad impression, either by being arrogant and cocky or just by not conducting a competent investigation will affect how a Judge or Jury will perceive the evidence. The worse the perception, the more defendable your case becomes. I know how the police are to conduct themselves in an investigation, and any deviations will be thoroughly discussed with you and how that affects the State’s case.

      Better Safe Than Sorry, It’s Their Third or More

      When the police stop you, they will check your criminal history to see if you have any prior DWI convictions. When two or more pop up, that fact alone will make it difficult for the officer to let you go. They only need probable cause to arrest you, and that is not very much evidence at all. You could show signs of intoxication on all the sobriety tests, yet still pass them, and be arrested on “probable cause.” The officer will be giving their opinion as to your intoxication, and not all opinions are good or valid.

      Validity of Priors Used to Enhance to a Felony

      To be considered a felony DWI, a person must have two prior DWI convictions. We will investigate the prior convictions and their judgments to make sure there is sufficient information in them to prove it was actually you who was convicted. We look at all the identifying information (or lack thereof) and quality of the fingerprint to determine if the State can prove it was you. Additionally, if there are any priors from other states, we have to make sure that prior would actually be a DWI in the State of Texas. If any prior would not amount to a DWI in Texas, it cannot be used to enhance your DWI to a felony. This requires attention to detail.

      At The Wilder Law Firm, we pay attention to detail in defending our clients. Perfecting a defense takes time, and we dedicate our time to our clients to ensure everything is done to develop the most effective defense possible.

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      Felony Dwi Penalties

      Felony DWI is related to a third DWI charge. The penalties for these include:

      • A prison sentence to last 2-10 years.
      • A fine of as much as $10,000.

      A felony DWI resulting from a DWI resulting in serious bodily injury or death carries greater penalties, which include:

      • A prison sentence of 2-20 years.
      • A fine of as much as $10,000.

      A felony DWI due to a DWI with a child passenger charge results in the following penalties:

      • A jail sentence of 180 days to two years.
      • A fine of up to $10,000.

      Additional penalties for felony DWI include:

      • A DWI on your criminal record.
      • DWI education classes.
      • Community service of up to 1,000 hours.
      • A suspension of your driver’s license for as much as 180 days.
      • An additional $1,000-$2,000 fee for three years in order to keep your driver’s license.
      • After you get your license back, the installation of an ignition interlock device on the vehicle(s) you drive.
      • An increase in auto insurance costs.
      • A difficult time obtaining or keeping certain professional licenses.
      • A difficult time obtaining or keeping certain jobs.
      • Immigration issues.
      • Child custody issues.
      • Difficulty furthering your education.

      Your Future Is on the Line – Our #1 Goal Is to Protect It

      When you are charged with a felony DWI, you are looking at the potential of becoming a convicted felon and going to prison. It is imperative that you be proactive in your defense and hire an experienced criminal lawyer in Plano who will take a personal interest in defending you and in the outcome of your case. When you hire The Wilder Law Firm, you will be putting a dedicated team in your corner who will invest the time and energy in defending you to ensure the best possible outcome. Contact us for the representation you deserve.

      Client Reviews

      When I was looking for an attorney to help me out with my DWI, I saw the large number of great reviews from past clients of the Wilder Law Firm. Upon meeting with me and then representing me, they provided clarity regarding all the choices and situations with my case. I was able to get a deferred probation for only 9 months with the interlock waived. This has allowed me to focus on continuing to improve my life without the strain of additional sentencing creating obstacles for me. Thank you so much to the Wilder Law Firm for creating such a smooth experience for me and taking care of me. I really appreciated that you all made me feel like you truly cared about me and my case.

      Dallas RE

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