San Antonio DWI Lawyer

If you’ve been arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) or DUI in San Antonio, it’s critical to act fast. At Hoelscher Gebbia Cepeda, PLLC, we’ve helped countless clients reduce or dismiss charges, and we’re ready to help you.

Call our experienced DWI lawyers in San Antonio at 210-222-9132 today.

3 Immediate Steps After a DWI Arrest

Moments following an arrest for driving while intoxicated are critical. Here are the immediate steps you should take:

1. Contact a San Antonio DWI Lawyer Immediately: Early legal representation from Hoelscher Gebbia Cepeda, PLLC can protect your rights and help shape your defense from day one.
2. Request an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) Hearing (within 15 days): This hearing allows you to challenge the automatic suspension of your license. Missing the deadline means losing driving privileges – act fast.
3. Post Bail Promptly: Bail typically ranges from $1,500 to $2,500. Understand your bail conditions and secure your release quickly.

Acting promptly on these steps maintains your driving privileges and secures your release during this period.

Why a Skilled DWI Attorney is Crucial for Your Defense

DWI charges are serious. Handling them alone – or with an overworked public defender – can lead to harsh penalties, license suspension, or even jail time.

Our seasoned San Antonio DWI attorneys know Texas law inside and out. We examine every detail—from the legality of the traffic stop to the accuracy of breath and blood tests. Our goal: suppress weak evidence, challenge flawed procedures, and build a defense that gives you the best shot at reducing or dismissing charges.

At Hoelscher Gebbia Cepeda, PLLC, we dig deep into police reports, test results, and body cam footage to uncover rights violations and errors that can make or break your case. Every defense is custom-built around your situation—no cookie-cutter strategies here.

Your first consultation is the first step in fighting back. We’ll review your case, explain your options, and map out a strategic defense plan. From start to finish, you’ll get responsive communication, personalized attention, and a legal team that doesn’t back down.

Understanding Penalties for Driving While Intoxicated in San Antonio

Getting convicted of DWI in San Antonio isn’t just a slap on the wrist. Even a first offense can land you in jail for 72 hours to 180 days and result in a license suspension lasting 90 days to a full year. And that’s just the start.

You’ll also face steep financial consequences—fines, bail, court costs, and skyrocketing insurance premiums. If your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is high, the maximum jail sentence can increase to one year. Beyond the legal fallout, a conviction can seriously damage your career, personal relationships, and future opportunities.

Repeat offenses come with even tougher penalties. A second DWI can mean 30 days to a year in jail and fines up to $4,000. Multiple license suspensions—both from the court and the Texas Department of Public Safety—can make life even more difficult.

DWI laws and penalties can change, so always consult an experienced attorney for up-to-date legal guidance. The stakes are too high to go it alone. A skilled DWI lawyer can be the difference between a second chance and a lasting setback.

Consequences of Multiple Offenses

Penalties for multiple offenses in San Antonio are significantly heightened, reflecting the serious nature of repeat offenses. A second offense in Texas is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, resulting in jail time ranging from 30 days to one year and a driver’s license suspension lasting from 180 days to two years.

A third offense is classified as a third-degree felony, potentially punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The financial and personal repercussions of multiple convictions are profound, impacting long-term employment opportunities, insurance premiums, and personal relationships.

DWI and Professional Licenses

A DWI conviction can have far-reaching implications, potentially jeopardizing your professional license in Texas. A conviction may trigger an investigation by licensing boards, possibly resulting in disciplinary actions or even revocation of your license. This is particularly relevant for professionals whose careers depend on maintaining a clean record.

Compliance with rehabilitation suggestions and licensing board recommendations can help mitigate the impact of a conviction on your professional life. Demonstrating a commitment to rehabilitation and adherence to board guidelines can significantly help preserve your professional credentials. Our dedicated attorneys at Hoelscher Gebbia Cepeda PLLC provide the guidance and representation needed to navigate these challenges.

Child Endangerment and Driving While Intoxicated Charges

In Texas, driving while intoxicated with a child passenger under 15 years old is classified as a state jail felony, carrying severe penalties. A conviction for driving while intoxicated with a child passenger can result in up to two years in state jail and fines reaching $10,000. Individuals convicted of this offense typically face a license suspension of up to 180 days.

Child endangerment charges can be filed in cases if the child is under 15, seat belts are not secured, inappropriate car seats are used, or if the child is left unattended. The consequences of a charge of driving while intoxicated with a child passenger are severe, potentially involving the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and leading to custody issues.

Building a Strong Defense Against DWI Charges

Building a strong defense against driving while intoxicated charges starts with challenging the legality of the traffic stop. If the officer lacked probable cause to make the stop, any resulting evidence can be suppressed, significantly weakening the prosecution’s case.

Improper administration of breath, blood, or urine tests can serve as another key defense strategy. DWI attorneys scrutinize the accuracy of these test results, as errors in administration or interpretation can lead to false positives. Evidence obtained during an unlawful search and seizure can also be dismissed, further strengthening your defense.

A skilled attorney employs various strategies to build a strong defense, including thorough evidence review, identifying procedural errors, and questioning the reliability of sobriety tests. By leveraging their experience and knowledge of Texas laws, attorneys can develop a defense that maximizes your chances of success.

The Role of Field Sobriety Tests and Breathalyzers

Field sobriety tests and breathalyzers play a significant role in driving while intoxicated cases, but their reliability is frequently questioned. Field sobriety tests are discretionary and not mandatory for police to conduct before making an arrest. These tests lack scientific accuracy and depend heavily on the officer’s personal judgment. Factors like bad lighting, uneven ground, or bad weather can make these tests less reliable.

Medical conditions like arthritis or vertigo can affect an individual’s performance on field sobriety tests, potentially leading to misinterpretation as impairment. Anxiety and other psychological factors can make these tests even less reliable. Challenging the administration and results of field sobriety tests in court can significantly undermine the prosecution’s case.

Video recordings from police cameras can be used to contest the validity of field sobriety tests. These recordings provide objective evidence to highlight inconsistencies or errors in the administration of the tests. By scrutinizing this evidence, your skilled DWI attorney from Hoelscher Gebbia Cepeda PLLC can build a strong defense challenging the reliability of the tests and protecting your rights.

Expungement and Record Sealing of DWI Convictions

Expungement and record sealing can give you a fresh start after a conviction, but the process can be complicated. To be eligible for sealing a first offense, you must have completed community supervision without serious conditions like a high BAC or injury to others. Filing for an expunction can happen right away if the case was dismissed, you were found not guilty, or there was no indictment.

Arrest records can be expunged if the case was dismissed, acquitted, or resolved without a conviction. A driving while intoxicated charge can also be removed from your permanent record, depending on how the charges were resolved. Although expunging a DWI in Texas is not common, it is an important step for those who qualify.

Sealing a conviction can be done through an Order of Non-Disclosure. This is possible after you meet certain conditions, like not committing any new crimes and completing all court-ordered requirements.

Clearing or sealing records can be a challenging process that requires legal assistance. Our seasoned attorneys at Hoelscher Gebbia Cepeda PLLC provide tailored advice to help you understand your options and the best steps to take. With the right legal support, you can work towards clearing your record and moving forward with your life.

Trust a Reputable DWI Lawyer in San Antonio

Our criminal defense lawyers have extensive backgrounds helping individuals with driving while intoxicated cases. We’ll mount an investigation to examine all the available evidence. For example, we may be able to bring into question the results of a breathalyzer test, or site mistakes made by police officers when they pull you over. Using our skills, resources, and years of experience, we can effectively help you combat a driving while intoxicated charge.

Joe Hoelscher—the leading San Antonio DWI lawyer at our firm—has extensive knowledge dealing with an assortment of cases. He has successfully won several high-profile cases and quite literally wrote the book on DWI defense (Texas Drunk Driving Law, published in 2017). When you hire a lawyer, you need to know that you’re working with someone with the experience and skill necessary to truly help your case. That’s why you should consider calling Hoelscher Gebbia Cepeda, PLLC. Let us help with your charge today.

Call Our San Antonio DWI Lawyers Today

If you’re looking for a DWI attorney in San Antonio, then contact Hoelscher Gebbia Cepeda, PLLC. We believe that cases receive the best outcomes when they’re treated as unique. After all, different circumstances may require different defense strategies to be effective. As such, we’ll discuss the case with you on a personal level to obtain whatever information is necessary to help your situation.

If you are searching for a lawyer in any of the following areas, please consider giving us a call:

• Seguin, TX
• San Antonio, TX
• Floresville, TX
• Jourdanton, TX
• New Braunfels, TX
• San Marcos, TX
• Boerne, TX
• Hondo, TX
• Fredericksburg, TX

Finding a qualified lawyer in the San Antonio area is your first step to reducing your sentence or removing your charges. So, if you’re searching for a lawyer, consider calling us today for legal advice.

Schedule a confidential consultation with our San Antonio law office today by calling 210-222-9132 or contact us online. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can start protecting your rights.

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