Trusted Cypress DWI Defense Attorney

Cypress, an unincorporated community in Harris County and just over 20 miles from Houston, is home to around 150,000 people. It's a pretty affluent community with good schools, a sizable professional class, and household incomes above the state and national averages. Every now and then, though, a resident of Cypress makes the mistake of having one too many alcoholic drinks and then gets behind the wheel (or is wrongfully accused of making this mistake).

If you have been charged with a driving while intoxicated offense (DWI) or another crime—whether it is related to drug crimes, driving offenses, assault charges, prostitution, white collar crimes, or another type of crime—you need a solid defense that incorporates the unique circumstances of your case and viable defense strategies.

Doug Murphy, who is Board Certified in DWI defense by the National College for DUI Defense (NCDD) and Board Certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS), understands the importance of a good defense because he understands the significant impact a conviction has on a person's life.

You have a constitutional right to defend yourself, so if charged with a crime in Cypress, Texas, get a defense that can help you get your life back together: contact Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. today at 713-229-8333.

What Happens if Arrested for DWI or Another Crime in Cypress, Texas?

Crime is low in Cypress. There are some theft and burglaries as well as some drug-related arrests but odds are if arrested in Cypress, it's a DWI-related offense. Though many DWI arrests occur on, off, or near Highway 290, many arrests occur within the community's limits.

When arrested for a DWI or another crime, you will likely be taken into custody to be booked and to spend the night (or longer) in jail. Cypress is not home to a specific jail, so depending on where you are arrested and by which law agency, you could be taken to any of the following:

• Harris County Jail, 701 North San Jacinto Street, Houston, TX 77002, (713) 755-5300
• Houston Central Jail, 61 Riesner Street, Houston, TX 77002, (713) 247-5400
• Houston Southeast Jail, 8300 Mykawa Road, Houston, TX 77048 (713) 247-5400
• Kegans ISF State Jail, 707 Top Street, Houston, TX 77002 (713) 224-6584.

If you are looking for someone who may be in jail and are not sure which jail, you can use Harris County's online search. This service also provides information like public criminal records for those arrested in Cypress.

After you are booked, you may be released on your own recognizance or by posting bail. Depending on the offense and the circumstances, you could be released immediately or you could spend a few days in jail.

An arraignment hearing will be scheduled—it could be directly before your release or up to a week or more after your release. You must attend the arraignment. It is preferable you have an attorney. If not, don't let the system intimidate you into pleading guilty. If you plead guilty, you lose your chance to fight the charge and stay clear of a criminal record.

Plead not guilty and then make sure to retain an experienced, resourceful, Board Certified lawyer in the Houston metropolitan area. You also want an attorney who understands that for many of you, it's not the fear of the penalties that matter most; it's the consequences of a criminal record that matter most.

What's the Punishment for a DWI Conviction in Cypress, Texas?

A DWI conviction carries a range of penalties—it all depends on whether the offense was your first or subsequent and if there were any aggravating circumstances, like driving with a child or causing an accident. You can be certain that a conviction can entail some jail or prison time if it's a felony DWI, steep fines, and driver's license suspension.

As mentioned, court-ordered penalties are not the real worry even though in the short-term, they matter. The real worry is the criminal record. Having one can subject you to long-term difficulties and challenges in your professional life, including:

• Losing a professional license, e.g., pilot's license, nursing license, medical license, teaching license, real estate license, or CPA license
• Losing security clearance
• Losing a commercial driver's license (CDL)
• Difficulty finding a job in the financial sector

These things matter because there is a large percentage of Cypress residents who have professional careers that depend on professional licenses, security clearances, etc. Cypress residents are:

• Anesthesiologists
• Chief executives
• Surgeons and physicians
• Family and general practitioners
• Pediatricians
• Petroleum engineers
• Marketing managers
• Certified public accountants
• Financial managers
• Real estate brokers
• Teachers

Most of these positions require some kind of license, and certain DWI convictions or other criminal convictions can mean you lose that license. Not to state the obvious but: the loss of your license means the loss of your livelihood.

A criminal record can lead to other problems as well, like:

• Difficulty finding good housing
• Difficulty traveling outside the country
• Difficulty with child custody
• Difficulty obtaining loans
• Difficulty getting into a higher educational institution

You could even lose your right to vote or own and possess a firearm if the conviction is a felony. So, again, retain a resourceful Houston-based DWI and criminal defense attorney today so you can avoid not only jail but limitations in the future quality of your life.

Contact a Cypress, Texas DWI and Criminal Defense Attorney

Doug Murphy is a committed DWI and criminal defense attorney. He will listen to your case and provide an honest analysis. Contact Doug Murphy today at 713-229-8333 to learn more about his approach to DWI and criminal defense.