Smart, Aggressive La Porte DWI Attorney

Located near the Galveston Bay in Harris County, Texas, La Porte is home to more than 35,000 Texans. Founded in 1892 as a planned community by a real estate group, La Porte was one of America's favorite tourist destinations in the early parts of the 20^th century. In recent years, the community grew to meet the industrial needs of the surrounding area.

While the area is not plagued with crime, every city has some arrests. In some cases, law enforcement in La Porte can jump to conclusions and make an arrest when it is unwarranted. If you have been charged with a crime in La Porte, it is important that you speak with a skilled defense attorney right away.

You could benefit from the guidance of an experienced attorney regardless of whether you are facing prosecution for driving while intoxicated or some other offense. Some of the common criminal charges La Porte residents face include drug crimes, prostitution, or violent crimes. Your best chance at obtaining a positive outcome involves hiring a skilled criminal defense attorney.

Attorney Doug Murphy has achieved Board-Certification in both DWI defense as well as criminal defense law. In fact, he is one of only two Texas attorneys to hold both certifications. These distinctions are challenging to obtain, making them a valuable indicator of a quality defense attorney.

There is no requirement that you hire an attorney to take on your case. However, your freedom is at stake. When even minor technical errors can harm your defense, it is critical that you put your future in the hands of a professional. If you have been charged with a crime in La Ponte, contact DWI and criminal defense lawyer Doug Murphy.

What Happens if I am Arrested for DWI or Another Crime in La Ponte, Texas?

If you have been arrested for a DWI or another criminal offense in La Porte, you will be booked into jail after you are arrested. Because La Porte is located in Harris County, you will be transferred to the Harris County Jail Inmate Processing Center located at 700 N San Jacinto St, Houston, TX 77002.

This is the case regardless of which law enforcement agency is responsible for the arrest. Some other jails in Harris County include:

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

Once you have been booked, you might be released on your own recognizance if your charges are minor. In more serious cases, you may be required to stay in jail until you can meet with a judge and enter a plea in your case. The initial hearing in your case is known as an arraignment. You should never plead guilty at an arraignment. Be sure to discuss your case with skilled legal counsel first.

What is the Punishment for a La Porte DWI Conviction?

There are a number of potential penalties following a DWI conviction in La Porte. Depending on your prior criminal history, the charge could be considered a felony or a misdemeanor. Regardless of the specific charge, a conviction could have an enormous impact on your life. If you are convicted of misdemeanor DWI, you could face thousands of dollars in fines and up to a year in jail. For a felony DWI conviction, the penalties are much stiffer.

There are also collateral consequences to a DWI conviction, which include:

• 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
• Difficulty finding good housing
• Difficulty traveling outside the country
• Difficulty with child custody
• Difficulty obtaining loans
• Difficulty getting into a higher educational institution
• Losing the right to vote
• Losing the right to own a firearm

For anyone arrested in La Porte, these consequences can turn your life upside down professionally. There are direct consequences for a number of professionals in La Porte, which has an "unusually high number of residents working" in:

• Life, physical, and social science occupations (2.14 times higher than expected);
• Production occupations (1.82 times higher than expected); and
• Material moving occupations (1.8 times higher than expected.

These professions often require security clearance and/or a professional license or a commercial driver's license. That said, any number of other positions in other industries require the same.

Reach out to a La Porte Defense Attorney Right Away

While an arrest for a DWI or other crime could be distressing, the reality is that a conviction is not guaranteed. In some cases, a skilled defense attorney could win you acquittal at trial. To discuss your defense options, contact the Murphy & McKinney Law Firm, P.C. at 713-229-8333 right away.