How to Find Out if a Family Member or Friend Was Arrested for a DWI in Houston

Are you concerned that a family member or friend has been arrested for DWI in Houston? Getting arrested for a DWI can be an intimidating experience that leaves people feeling shocked, frightened, and uncertain about their future. It can be an equally scary experience for their loved ones.

The police will take someone arrested on suspicion of DWI to a local police station for booking. A person who is arrested for DWI in Houston typically remains in jail until the next day. This can be a stressful time for the person's family members and friends. Not only can they be unaware of their loved one's whereabouts, but they may also have no idea whether or not they have a criminal charge.

Does this sound familiar? Unfortunately, family members and friends are frequently left in the dark when their loved one gets a DWI in Houston. The hours following a DWI arrest can leave spouses, children, and friends frightened about the whereabouts of their loved one.

If you're concerned that the police arrested someone you know for a DWI, you're probably unsure of the next steps to take. The best advice if a friend or family member was arrested for DWI is to contact a Board Certified DWI Attorney Doug Murphy to walk you through the necessary steps to locate and post a bond for your friend or family member to be released from custody.

Once released from custody, Houston DWI defense lawyer Doug Murphy is here to help you figure out the next steps if your friend or family member is arrested on suspicion of DWI. He has the experience necessary to help successfully guide you through this challenging time and to fight for a favorable outcome.

What Happens After a DWI Arrest?

Once the police arrest your loved one on suspicion of DWI, they will transport them to a local police station for booking. The booking process usually only takes a few hours. However, most people charged with DWIs in Houston will stay in the Harris County Joint Processing Center for about 24 hours. The Houston Police Department now transports all persons arrested to the Harris County Joint Processing Center.

Inmates can use the jail telephone after they've been arrested for a DWI. However, it's not always easy for people to contact their family members and friends until they have been processed into the Harris County Join Processing Center. People arrested for DWIs face several barriers to reaching out to their loved ones. They may be intoxicated, unable to remember phone numbers, or have difficulty connecting through the jail's phone system.

What if you are able to track your loved one down? There are a few steps you can take. First, call an attorney to help you make the necessary arrangements. A DWI attorney can help you post bail and begin preparing for your loved one's arraignment. They will also move into action and investigate the case. After the arrestee is released, a DWI attorney will begin preparing for the arraignment and working on a defense.

How to Find a Houston DWI Arrestee

The City of Houston and Harris County have a lookup system to help people find information on inmates. You can use the system to determine if someone you know was arrested for a DWI.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office online public district and county criminal records inquiry allows you to find someone in jail. You'll need details about the person to find a record in the inquiry. You can enter the following information to find them in the database:

• Social Security Number (SSN)
• System Person Number (SPN)
• Last name only
• First name and last name
• Last name and date of birth

The System Person Number (SPN) is a number assigned to all inmates. If you do not have this number, you can receive it when using the inmate lookup system. It's important to document this number to help find further information about the case. Although the Harris County Sheriff's Office regularly updates its website, it does not guarantee that the information is current or correct.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office website also includes portals to find other key information related to DWI arrests. You can use their offense inquiry to find information on inmate court cases and offenses. The website also includes relevant information about where to post bond.

Consequences of a DWI in Texas

There's no denying the severity of a DWI arrest in Texas. Texas laws are strict on even first-time offenders who drive drunk or impaired. Your loved one may face consequences, including costly fines, the loss of their driver's license, enrollment in alcohol education programs, jail time, and more. That's not to mention the black mark that comes with having a DWI arrest on their record.

If you know someone arrested for a DWI in Texas, it's crucial to arm yourself with knowledge right away. You need to know what you're up against and prepare yourself to fight back against charges. An attorney can provide you with crucial information about your case and help you prepare a defense. Attorney fees are a small price to pay in comparison with the costly fines and substantial ramifications of a DWI conviction.

Here are some of the consequences of driving while intoxicated in Texas.

• First Offense - A DWI first offense is a class B misdemeanor if their blood alcohol concentration falls below .15%. If the blood alcohol concentration is above .15%, a person faces a class A misdemeanor. A class B misdemeanor can carry between 72 hours and 180 days of jail time and fines of up to $2,000. Class A misdemeanors can lead to 1 year in jail and fines up to $4,000.
• Second Offense - A second DWI in Texas is a class A misdemeanor. Punishments for these repeat offenders are more severe and can include jail time of 30 days to 1 year and fines up to $4,000. They also face a license suspension of up to 2 years.
• Third Offense - A third DWI offense is a 3^rd-degree felony DWI in Texas. These offenses carry punishments of 2 to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.
• DWI with a child - If a child under 15 is in the car at the time of the DWI, the person faces a state jail felony. Punishment includes jail time of 6 months to 2 years, fines up to $10,000, and a license suspension of 90 days to 2 years.

What Are the Next Steps?

If your loved one is arrested for a DWI, your first step is to call a DWI attorney. An attorney can take immediate measures to help, such as coordinating bail payments or contacting the jail.

They can also help you prepare a defense against a DWI conviction. In Texas, DWI is a serious crime that carries significant consequences. You don't want to risk your loved one's freedom. A DWI attorney has the knowledge needed to reduce charges, fight violations of rights, and push for favorable outcomes. They will use their experience and keen understanding of the laws to get the best possible result in the case.

If your loved one is charged with a DWI, it's important to call an attorney right away. A Houston DWI attorney will prepare a defense that is instrumental to a successful case. Here are a few of the common strategies a DWI attorney can use to work toward a favorable outcome:

• Challenging evidence like field sobriety tests, blood tests, and breath tests
• Identifying constitutional rights violations such as improper stops and search and seizure
• Reviewing the evidence and police reports to challenge the charges
• Identifying violations of rules and protocols by police officers

Your Houston DWI Defense Attorney

The consequences of a DWI can be life-changing. If your loved one is charged with a criminal DWI, you need the best DWI attorney to represent them. Doug Murphy has a proven track record of achieving the best possible results for his clients. He is a leader of the law who has extensive experience defending clients in all types of DWI cases.

Doug Murphy is one of two Texas lawyers who are Board Certified in DWI defense by the National College for DUI Defense and Board Certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has won numerous TCDLA President's Awards while serving on the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

You will be hard-pressed to find another lawyer with the same credentials and experience. With so much at stake, you need to use the best attorney. Doug Murphy can provide you with unparalleled legal representation and fight aggressively to get your loved one the best possible outcome in their case.

Contact Our Harris County DWI Defense Lawyer

Is someone you know facing DWI charges in Texas? Contact our office today. Board Certified DWI attorney Doug Murphy will use his legal knowledge and experience to fight the charge and help you move past this difficult time. Don't let a DWI charge jeopardize your loved one's future. Contact our office today at 713-229-8333 to get the best representation in your Houston DWI case.