The Professional Consequences of a Texas DWI

 Posted on October 10, 2020 in Uncategorized

Police recently arrested a Harris County Precinct 6 Deputy after she allegedly choked another woman until she passed out on the side of the Gulf Freeway. She faces charges of DWI and aggravated assault after the incident.

Police received a call to a crash and major disturbance after 6 pm on Sunday, October 4th. Police reported that the off-duty deputy was driving along the Gulf Freeway when one of her passengers asked her to pull over so she could be sick. When she did, she purportedly crashed into a concrete barrier. Then she and her passenger began arguing, and the deputy allegedly choked the woman until she passed out.

The Harris County Sherriff's Department released a statement indicating that the deputy was still on probation, having been employed with the department for only four months before her arrest. The department reported that the deputy "was with Precinct 6 for only four months but has been fired and is no longer employed with the precinct."

If you are facing a DWI charge in Texas--even if, fortunately, you didn't try to choke someone out--it can be scary and overwhelming. Often people are tempted to plead guilty, pay their fine, serve their time, and forget about it. Unfortunately, there can be long-lasting professional ramifications from a DWI conviction.

DWI and Professional Ramifications

A DWI conviction can result in serious criminal penalties, including substantial fines, a suspension of your driver's license, and jail time. But what people often don't realize are the possible consequences of a DWI conviction to your career, particularly if you are a law enforcement officer or hold a professional license.

• Law Enforcement:

In Texas, we expect our law enforcement officials to be examples in the community. A DWI conviction can affect your job as a police officer, resulting in a conviction or even losing your job in some situations. Once a conviction is on your record, it can also be difficult to find a law enforcement job. While a felony conviction is typically a bar to becoming a police officer in Texas, it is possible to become one with a misdemeanor on your record. However, many police departments have a pool of candidates to choose from, and a DWI or other criminal record will be a strike against you.

• Teachers:

We hold educators to a high standard in Texas. If you hold a Texas teaching license, a DWI conviction can result in losing your license in some situations.

• Professional Licenses:

A DWI conviction can affect pretty much any professional license you may hold, including licenses to practice medicine, nursing, dentistry, and the law. A DWI conviction can also affect your Certified Public Accounting license, pilot's license, or security clearance.

The best chance you have to avoid a DWI conviction and retain your professional license or law enforcement job is to hire an experienced DWI attorney.

Hire a Specialized DWI Defense Expert

Dealing with a DWI charge can be overwhelming, but there is hope. Just because the police charge you with DWI doesn't mean a court will convict you. Attorney Doug Murphy is Board Certified in DWI defense law. He is one of only two attorneys in Texas Board Certified in both DWI and criminal defense law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Best Lawyers in America also recently named Doug the "Lawyer of the Year" for 2021 for DWI defense. Doug received this prestigious ranking through the peer reviews of his fellow Houston-area lawyers. He is an expert in DWI defense law, and attorneys throughout Texas and the United States seek his expertise.

If you are facing a DWI or other criminal charges in Texas, contact our office today to begin working on your defense. A DWI can impact many areas of your life, but you don't have to face this alone.