Table of Contents.
- DWI Arrest and Jail Release
- DWI Bond Conditions in Travis County
- Your Driver’s License After a DWI Arrest
- Understanding Your DWI Charge
- What Happens in Court
- Defending a DWI Case
- How DWI Cases Are Resolved Without Trial
- DWI Penalties & Long-Term Consequences
- Taking a DWI Case to Trial
- How Much Does a DWI Cost?
- Clearing Your Record After a DWI
If you’ve stumbled on to this guide, it’s very likely that you, or a loved one is facing a DWI. Although some of this information is specific to Travis County, much of the information can be applied across Texas as well. However, If you have a DWI outside of Texas, you should skip this guide and research information from your own state
This guide is not a substitute for legal advice. Instead it is intended as a starting point to familiarize yourself with the process. It is often said about DWI’s specifically “ But for the grace of God go I…” This just means that most average people have driven while intoxicated at some point in their lives. I say this not to excuse someone who has driven while intoxicated, but rather to give some context. DWIs often bring people into the criminal justice system for the first time in their lives. For many it is a foreign and confusing process.
No one wants to be dealing with the consequences of a DWI, but by being armed with information, you can hopefully reduce some of the unknowns and anxiety about the process. That is the purpose of the guide. Importantly, one should never substitute anything in this guide for advice given to them by their lawyer. Every case is unique and has different requirements. If your lawyer says something that is contrary to the words in this guide, listen to your lawyer. Nothing in this guide is legal advice.
My name is Rob Chesnutt, and I have handled DWIs and other criminal cases in Travis County for mor than 12 years. I received my bachelor’s from Texas A&M in 2002 and graduated cum laude from Loyola New Orleans in 2014. I am the founder of atx.legal. I’m happy to give consultations for anyone arrested in Travis, Hays or Williamson counties.
*A Note on the use of AI: While AI was used in the preparation of this guide, the structure of the guide was created by the author and all information has been vetted and edited to ensure accuracy. I believe that AI can be used as a very powerful aide, but can also be abused to create “AI slop”. In creating this guide, I have strived to use this tool to offer valuable information for people facing a DWI.