Texas City DWI Lawyers

A DWI arrest can leave you unsure how you will get to work or what will happen in court. The paperwork may also include a driver’s license deadline that comes before your first court date. Zendeh Del & Associates, PLLC helps people facing DWI charges in Texas City understand the evidence, the license process, and their defense options.

What to do with your arrest paperwork

Keep your release papers, court notices, and any document about your driver’s license together. Check the dates now, rather than waiting for a reminder. Write down questions for your lawyer, including whether you can drive and which conditions apply to your release.

If you receive a notice from the Texas Department of Public Safety, get advice about it promptly. A criminal court date does not replace a deadline to challenge a license suspension.

What Texas must prove in a DWI case

Under Texas Penal Code Section 49.04, DWI means operating a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. Section 49.01 defines intoxication in two ways: an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, or not having the normal use of mental or physical faculties because of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of substances. A result below 0.08 does not, by itself, rule out a charge. Texas Penal Code Sections 49.01 and 49.04

The prosecution must prove every element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. An arrest, confinement, indictment, or other charge gives rise to no inference of guilt at trial. Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 38.03

That makes the facts important. What shows who was operating the vehicle? What do the recordings show? What testing was performed, and what does it establish? A defense review should address the evidence in your case rather than assume that every arrest or test result tells the full story.

Your license and criminal charge follow separate processes

The Administrative License Revocation process, often called ALR, concerns your driving privileges. It is separate from the criminal prosecution. A test refusal or qualifying test result can lead to a proposed suspension, even while the criminal case is pending.

DPS describes different notice situations:

• If an officer serves a suspension notice, the hearing-request period is generally 15 days from service.
• If DPS later mails a suspension notice after receiving a blood-test result, its guidance describes a 20-day period from the mailing date.

The deadline depends on the notice and how it was served. Have a lawyer review the actual document immediately; do not assume you always have 15 days from the arrest or that you should wait until a blood result arrives. Texas DPS ALR guidance

Whether you may drive depends on your current license status, the effective date of any suspension, and other restrictions. Ask for advice about your status before driving if you are unsure.

What penalties can apply

An ordinary, unenhanced DWI is a Class B misdemeanor. Its statutory range includes a minimum of 72 hours of confinement, up to 180 days in jail, and a fine of up to $2,000. These are legal ranges, not a prediction of your sentence. Texas Penal Code Section 49.04 and Section 12.22

Some facts change the charge or punishment. If an analysis of a blood, breath, or urine specimen shows an alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more at the time the analysis is performed, Section 49.04 classifies the offense as a Class A misdemeanor. Prior convictions can enhance an ordinary DWI. Allegations involving a child passenger, serious bodily injury, or death may support separately defined offenses with different penalties. Current law makes DWI in a school crossing zone during the time its reduced speed limit applies a state jail felony. The alleged offense date and specific facts determine which law applies. Texas Penal Code Sections 49.04 through 49.09

The criminal fine is not necessarily the total cost of a case. Ask counsel to explain any applicable court costs, license consequences, and other requirements before you make a plea decision.

Where a Texas City DWI case may be heard

An arrest within Texas City does not mean the DWI charge will be tried in Texas City Municipal Court. That court handles Class C charges within its jurisdiction. A misdemeanor DWI generally proceeds in a Galveston County court at law; a felony DWI generally proceeds in district court. Use the court named on your case paperwork, not the arrest location, to confirm where you must appear. Texas City Municipal Court, Galveston County court information, and Texas trial court jurisdiction

Your ALR hearing is a different matter. Those hearings are handled by the State Office of Administrative Hearings, not the court deciding your criminal charge. Texas DPS ALR guidance

How the evidence can be reviewed

A useful defense review looks at more than the number printed on a test report. Questions to discuss with counsel include:

• What evidence supports the stop and arrest?
• Do the officer’s report and available recordings agree?
• What do witness statements show about driving and the events before the arrest?
• What breath or blood records exist, and do they support the State’s conclusions?
• Is there evidence that supports a different account of what happened?

Texas discovery law provides a process for obtaining covered reports, recordings, statements, and other evidence, subject to legal restrictions. Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 39.14

If evidence was obtained unlawfully, counsel can assess whether to ask the court to exclude it. Article 38.23 addresses unlawfully obtained evidence and includes exceptions; a dispute about police conduct does not automatically lead to dismissal. Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 38.23

Mistakes to avoid

• Waiting for your criminal court date before checking a DPS notice.
• Treating a test result as the only evidence that matters.
• Assuming a first DWI can never be a felony.
• Making a plea decision without understanding the charge, evidence, and license consequences.

How Zendeh Del & Associates can help

Our firm handles DWI and criminal defense matters from its Galveston office. Attorney Jonathan Zendeh Del practices DWI defense and has completed gas chromatography training at Axion Analytical Labs. His State Bar profile lists criminal law among his practice areas. State Bar of Texas attorney profile

We can discuss your paperwork, your concerns, and the next steps in seeking representation. Our firm’s published client pledge includes explaining legal options, keeping clients informed, and explaining potential fees in advance. No lawyer can promise a particular result.

Frequently Asked Questions

Talk with a lawyer about your Texas City DWI charge

Call Zendeh Del & Associates, PLLC at (409) 215-7500 for a free initial consultation. If you have a DPS notice or an upcoming court date, mention it when you call so the timing can be discussed. Our office is at 1813 61st Street, Suite 101, Galveston, Texas 77551.

Law checked as of September 17, 2026.

This page provides general information, not advice about a particular case. The law that applies may depend on the alleged offense date and your circumstances.