What Happens After a DWI Arrest in Austin
An Austin DWI attorney defends clients charged under Texas Penal Code §49.04 in Travis County courts. Two proceedings begin at arrest: the criminal case and the ALR license suspension process. Mark Hull has defended Austin DWI cases for 20+ years. Allison Tisdale is a former Travis County DWI prosecutor. Call 512-599-9999.
A DWI arrest in Austin starts two separate clocks at the same time. The criminal case moves through the courts, but a second proceeding, the Administrative License Revocation, runs independently on its own timeline.
If the officer handed you a DIC-25 notice at the scene, Texas generally allows 15 days to request an ALR hearing with the Texas Department of Public Safety. If a hearing is not requested in time, the suspension generally takes effect on the date stated in the notice. When representation includes the ALR proceeding, The Hull Firm acts promptly to request the hearing before the applicable deadline and to protect the client's opportunity to challenge an administrative license suspension.
The most common question after a first arrest: will I go to jail for a first DWI in Austin? A first-offense DWI can involve jail exposure, fines, driver's license consequences, increased insurance costs, and a lasting criminal record. The actual outcome depends on the facts of the case, the evidence, the charge level, and the final disposition.
The criminal case is heard at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center in Austin. Austin DWI cases are prosecuted by two different offices depending on charge level. The Travis County Attorney’s Office prosecutes Class B and Class A misdemeanor DWI: first and second offense. The Travis County District Attorney’s Office under DA José Garza handles felony DWI: third offense, DWI with a child passenger, and intoxication assault.
Years of regular practice in Travis County courts can provide valuable familiarity with the offices, procedures, and local practices that may affect how a DWI case moves through the system. Our Austin DWI lawyers appear in both offices regularly. Read the full guide on how Travis County courts handle DWI cases: which unit has your file and how they evaluate first-offense cases.
Your DWI defense often comes down to three questions: Was the traffic stop on I-35, MoPac, 6th Street, or wherever it happened legally justified? Do the field sobriety tests hold up under scrutiny? Does the BAC evidence, whether the Intoxilyzer 9000 breath test or the Travis County Medical Examiner blood draw, survive a technical challenge? Each of these issues should be evaluated to determine whether the facts, procedures, or evidence support a legal or evidentiary challenge in a particular Austin DWI case. Call 512-599-9999 today.
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When the Evidence Supports a Dismissal
A dismissal can be an important objective in a DWI defense, but the appropriate strategy depends on the evidence, procedural history, applicable law, and the client's circumstances. No attorney can guarantee a dismissal or any other particular result.
Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its individual facts, evidence, and applicable law.








