Thanks Santa!

Santa Clause came early to office this year. He was nice enough to leave behind a new Intoxilyzer 5000. This is the same machine that the Houston DWI law enforcement offices use to determine if someone is above the legal limit to drive a vehicle after drinking.

It is an advantage having a Houston DWI attorney with this machine. I have learned a lot about this machine over the years. Having one in the office is invaluable when defending DWI cases where the state is alleging that my client was over the legal limit when driving.

Feel free to contact me if you have questions about the Intoxilyzer 5000.

Happy Holidays!

A sad day in the Harris County Courthouse

I feel like the Houston, Harris County Courthouse is mourning today. The courthouse is a closed knit group of people. Most people respect each other and wish the best for everyone. It pains us when someone goes through a difficult period. Thus, it saddens everyone that Judge Don Jackson was found guilty of official oppression when he tried to strike up a relationship with a woman that was accused of DWI in his court. Judge Jackson was punished with a two year probation and has to serve 30 actual days in jail as one of the many conditions of his probation. Lastly, the judge was immediately barred from his position that he has had for the last 18 years. What a terrible way to end the year. My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family.

Happy Holidays from the Harris County District Attorney's Office

The Harris County District Attorney's Office is feeling generous this holiday season. They are giving the citizens of Harris County a "no refusal weekend" for the rest of the year. The current schedule for the No Refusal program includes Thursday, Dec. 10; Friday-Saturday, Dec. 11-12; Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 17-19; Friday-Saturday, Dec. 25-26; and Friday-Saturday, Jan. 1-2.
Please keep in mind that the last four DWI no refusal weekends have resulted in over 900 DWI arrests in Harris County, Texas.

The imaginary line in a DWI arrest

As a Houston DWI Attorney I am constantly reviewing DWI video tapes. These video tapes show how a person performs the field sobriety tests. These are awkward tests that most people would never be doing in normal life, but they are suppose to be testing a person for clues to determine if the have lost their normal use of mental or physical faculties. One of the most annoying parts of the test for me is when a police officer asks a person to walk down an imaginary line. The officer does not indicate how wide this line is to the person when giving them the instructions, but counts it against them when the person steps off the imaginary line. I am always perplexed how the officer knows the width of the line if nothing was agreed to before the starting the test. For all we know that line may be two feet wide and the person never stepped off the line. Thus, an officer should give more detailed instructions in this phase of the tests before they say that this is an indication of intoxication.

Kerry's DUI charges dropped

There was a lot made of the DUI arrest of Alexandra Kerry's, Senator John Kerry's daughter, last month, but you will be hard pressed to find much information about the fact that the charges were dropped because of insufficient evidence. It is sad that it is likely they she will remembered as the Senator's daughter that was driving drunk despite the fact that she blew under the legal limit.

It is always important to contact a DWI attorney as soon as possible to discuss all your options.

Houston DWI Hotspot

Every year or two the DWI hotspot changes. This year the Washington Avenue area in Houston, Texas has become an attractive spot for DWI arrests. There are a few reasons for this, our city will always be popular for DWI arrest because of the lack of public transportation. Next, the are large of amount of bars located on Washington avenue. At times you can see the patrons walking from bar to bar. Eventually these patrons have to drive home. Lastly, the Houston Police station is less than 3 miles from where all these bars are located. This also where the Houston central intoxication is located. Thus, they can quickly process one DWI and go back to the same area to arrest someone else. If you decide to go out in the Washington Avenue area in Houston please be aware of dangers involved if you are not careful.

Your Houston DWI Attorney- my law firm

I am a partner at Madrid, Martinez & Associates, a Houston law firm that aggressively defends against driving while intoxicated charges (DWI). My team of experienced DWI attorneys represent clients throughout the greater Houston area. We have experience with virtually every type of alcohol-related case, from first-time misdemeanor DWI offenses to felony DWI and vehicular manslaughter charges.
The success of my DWI practice stems from the outstanding level of service we offer to our DWI clients. I am here to help you and fight for you, without judgment or lectures. My team will get to know you in an effort to understand your particular circumstance from top to bottom.
We know you are facing a tough situation. We're here for you. If you're interested in talking with me or another DWI lawyer, we offer free consultations. . We offer confidence and peace of mind during a very stressful time and empower you to make informed decisions about your future.
A skilled DWI defense lawyer can make a difference if your matter is handled correctly. As a DWI attorney I will investigate your case, try to save your driving privileges, negotiate with the prosecutor, handle all court appearances and guide you through the legal process. You should not gamble with your future. If you have questions regarding DWI charges, I am available for a free consultation by calling (713) 225-1038. If I am not in the office someone from my staff will give you my mobile phone number if you request it.

The media is not fair

Most of the time it is helpful to be an offspring that is weatlthy and powerful. A small percentage of the time it is drawback. Take for instance the recent dwi arrest of Alexandra Kerry. Her arrest would not have been news, but for the fact that she is the daughter of Senator John Kerry. The worst part of this is that she will always be remember as the daughter that was arrested for DWI despite the fact that she is presumed to be innocent.

This reminds me of the time that the Mayor of Houston, Bill White, had to deal with the same issue when his daughter was arrested in Houston, Texas for driving while intoxicated in 2006. Luckily, she was found not guilty by a jury the next year.

Houston DIVERT Program

When the Harris County District Attorney's Office rolled out the DWI Divert program in August Judges Mike Fields and Bill Harmon would not allow a defendant to reset a case for the year that was required. Thus, these two judges decision precluded anyone from entering the program. As of this week only one judge in Houston is against the DIVERT program since Judge Fields approved the first person in his court. I predict judge Harmon will follow suit within the year.

A DUI while breastfeeding?

An Australian woman makes DUI news by getting arrested while breastfeeding. According to the article the 19 year old mother of a five month old nearly crashed into a police car while leaving a pub. What is mind boggling to me is what type of establishment is serving alcohol to a 19 year old woman that has an infant with her. She was charged with the crimes of failing to provide a breath sample, driving while disqualified in an unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle, failing to give way, and driving with an unrestrained child. It seems like the Australian police pile on the charges just as much as the Houston police.

Any pub is good pub

Everyone knows the saying that any publicity is good publicity. I can not decide if I agree with that statement. Recently, the Houston Press ran an article regarding DWI attorneys in Houston featuring Tyler Flood. The article paints all lawyers that practice DWI in a bad light while target Mr. Flood's practice. What ensues is a fraternity boy mentality going wild getting guilty people off and boasting along the way. The article misses the important that anyone accused of a crime is PRESUMED INNOCENT. This applies to a traffic ticket, DWI, or murder. The same rules apply. The accused must be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Instead of focusing on the fact Houston Police officers routinely arrest people for DWI that are innocent the spotlight is shining on Mr. Flood lives his life and how the public is a more dangerous place because he may win a case that seemed lost all the while bragging about the outcome.

Mr. Flood does not reflect the attitude of this Houston DWI lawyer. I go into every case presuming my client is innocent, seeking a dismissal, and not allowing my ego get in the way of doing the best for my client. I will always put my client's interest before my own.

You call this reliable?

Imagine going to a heart surgeon that tells you the most reliable surgery is one that has only been done on 28 people, has not been peer reviewed, the basis is not scientific, and there other more common surgeries available. How likely are you going to elect to have that surgery? As a Houston DWI Attorney I ask that very question during jury selection since it relates to the horizontal gaze nystagmus test (HGN). The HGN is not recognized by the science community, took over 5 years to complete after using only 28 subjects, there are 47 other things that may display the clues that a police officer is looking for when administering the test. How can anyone call this test reliable is beyond me.

The ALR Hearing

The administrative license revocation hearing, (ALR) is probably the only hearing your DWI attorney will be attending without you. At this hearing your DWI attorney tries to save your driver's license. My law firm is very successful in saving a person's drivers license.

All the criminal court dates will be attended by you and your lawyer.

Welcome

Hello...I hope to blog routinely about what is happening with DWI issues in Houston, Texas. At times these issues may also apply to the rest of the county, but I hope to concentrate on what is happening in the city that I handle DWI cases.

If you have any questions please click here to visit my DWI website or contact me at (713) 225-1038. If I am not in the office my assistant will provide you my mobile phone number.