4 Behaviors To Avoid With A Pending DWI Case In Houston
When you have been charged with a DWI (driving while intoxicated), your character will come under scrutiny in court. It often comes down to whether you appear as a reasonable and responsible person when you deny being intoxicated or that your driving was impaired at the time of your arrest. Your actions after your arrest and while you are awaiting your appearance in court should never contradict your efforts to present yourself as a reliable person. Courts are more likely to believe that you made the choice to drink and drive if you continue to show poor judgment.
There are 4 behaviors to be avoided that can seriously undermine your DWI defense:
1. Social Media Posts
You are far more likely to be open and honest with friends and family than you would be to the court. You may be tempted to post about how much you really had to drink and the events on the night of your arrest. But your social media posts are not private and prosecutors will be monitoring your accounts to see what you are saying about your drinking and your arrest. Social media provides a permanent digital record of everything that you say and can be used as evidence against you in a court of law. Avoid posting anything about the night (or day) in question, your arrest, or your trial. In fact, it is recommended to avoid talking to anyone about the matter except your lawyer.
2. Avoid Partying & Drinking
If you continue to go out every night and consume alcohol, it will only support the prosecution’s argument that you are irresponsible about drinking. It also presents a picture to the court that you don’t take the DWI charge against you seriously. If your behavior leads to an additional arrest such as public intoxication, this will hurt your case even further. Avoid social gatherings and outings that include drinking. Even if you aren’t drinking, a social media pic of you with a bunch of drunk friends is not going to help you.
3. Driving With A Suspended License
After you have been arrested or charged with a DWI, your license will automatically be suspended in the state of Texas pending the outcome of your court hearing. If you are caught driving with a suspended license, you will be arrested. There is very little defense against driving with a suspended license and it will hurt your DWI case.
4. Appearing In Court
It is critical to appear in court on the scheduled date for your hearing. If you don’t, it gives the impression that you are trying to evade justice – implying that you are guilty. It also sends the message that you have no respect for the court or the charges against you.
Jim Butler can provide you with more information on how you should be acting in public pending a DWI hearing and assist you with defending against the charges. Give us a call today to schedule a consultation.