713.236.9700
917 Franklin St #550 Houston, TX 77002
MERCER & KEIRNAN
HOUSTON CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS
"Over 40 Years of Experience in Houston"
Tell Us About Your Case
Top Criminal Defense Attorney in Houston
Top DWI Attorney in Houston
Top Assault Defense Lawyer and Drug Lawyer Casey Keirnan
Top Criminal Defense Attorney in Houston
Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (2014)
Houston DWI Attorneys
Experienced DWI Attorneys in Houston
Criminal defense attorney John P. Keirnan has a proven track record of success defending against DWIs. For more than 40 years, Mr. Keirnan has fought hard for Texans charged with DWI, taking many cases to trial. Your best possible chance of successfully fighting a DWI charge is to work with an experienced DWI attorney who knows how to defend your rights. Call us now for a free consultation and speak with an experienced Houston criminal defense attorney about your DWI case.
DWI Defense Attorneys Casey Keirnan and Michael Mercer have experience defending the following specific DWI and alcohol related charges:
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DWI 1st Offense
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DWI 2nd Offense
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DWI 3rd Offense or greater
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DWI Arrest involving Marijuana, THC Vape Pens or Synthetic Marijuana
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Public Intoxication
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Open Container
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Intoxication Assault
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Intoxication Manslaughter
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Minor in Possession
Client Reviews
DWI Penalties
Driver's License Suspensions & Occupational Licenses
Adults:
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Refused breath test– not less than 180 days.
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Provided breath test– not less than 90 days IF you blew over .08 BAC.
Minors:
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Refused test – not less than 180 days.
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Provided test – not less than 60 days IF any alcohol detected.
You have fifteen (15) days from the date of your arrest to request an ALR hearing and contest the suspension of a driver's license. Contact a Houston DWI attorney at Mercer & Keirnan NOW to learn how to prevent your license from being suspended. Time is of the essence.
Call 713-236-9700 for a free evaluation, or Request a Quote Online
Experienced DWI Attorney available 24/7
MERCER & KEIRNAN
Average Rating: 5 out of 5 (11 reviews)
"Michael Mercer and Casey Keirnan are some of the best criminal defense attorneys in Houston. I was facing an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge in Harris County and they got this felony assault case dismissed outright with no probation. Anyone charged with assault or aggravated assault in Houston should strongly consider calling Mercer and Keirnan Criminal Defense Attorneys. I couldn’t be happier with how they handled my case!"
by H. I. March 8, 2024
"I hired Mercer and Keirnan because of their experience handling DWIs and other charges. Working closely with them throughout my case, it became very clear that I had made the right decision..."
by T. M. December 30, 2018
Jail-time and Fines for a First-Time DWI or DUI
The penalties for a first-time DWI or DUI can include jail-time from between 72 hours to 180 days and fines of up to $2,000. These penalties can double depending on your blood alcohol content and other factors specific to each DWI case. In addition, DPS will demand $1,000/year for three years after a first-time DWI.
Anyone pleading guilty to a DUI or DWI who wishes to avoid jail-time may receive a 1-2 year probation with hefty conditions including installation of an interlock device in their car. Under the new 2017 Non-Disclosure laws, you could be eligible to have a DWI probation sealed from your record.
The punishment in each DWI case will differ based on the facts and also on the DWI Defense Lawyer you hire. After 38 years of DWI defense, Casey Keirnan understands the pretrial and trial processes in DWI cases like few other attorneys in the area. There may be special options available to achieve a dismissal of your DWI,, either through the selective pretrial intervention program or by setting the case for trial and winning based on problems with the arrest or the results of the breath and blood tests. Casey Keirnan's clients have high expectations when it comes to defending their DWI's and negotiating for the best possible result in each case.
"Never been in trouble before and now I couldn't bond out of jail and had a court appointed lawyer who gave me little hope. I found defense attorney Casey Keirnan and Michael Mercer because of their experience as a theft defense lawyer. They replaced my court appointed attorney and everything changed."
by D. O. August 27, 2018
"I hired a top Houston drug lawyer with Mercer and Keirnan to defend my possession of a Controlled Substance Case. After a free consultation with Criminal defense attorney Michael Mercer, Mercer and Keirnan signed on to my case and after a few months my felony drug charge was dismissed!"
by RG One February 5, 2019
Types of DWI Charges in Texas
DWI 1st Offense (Class B Misdemeanor)
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Fine – not to exceed $2,000.
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Jail – confinement in the County Jail for a term not less than 72 hours nor more than six (6) months.
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Community Service – not less than 24 hours nor more than 100 hours.
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Additional Conditions – depending on the facts of your case (accident, prior record, alchohol problem, etc.), the court may order additional conditions. Some examples include: Ignition Interlock Device, Alcohol Treatment, consume no alcohol, confinement, restitution, or enhanced penalties.
DWI 2nd Offense (Class A Misdemeanor)
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Ignition Interlock Device – required as a condition of bond while your case is pending, as well as a condition of probation after a guilty plea. The device requires a breath sample before starting your car and periodically while driving.
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Fine – not to exceed $4,000.
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Jail – confiement in County Jail for not less than 72 hours nor more than one year.
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Community Service – not less than 80 hours nor more than 200 hours.
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License Suspended – if convicted, your driving priveleges may be suspended for not less than 180 days nor more than two (2) years.
Call the DWI attorneys at Mercer & Keirnan to find out how to avoid getting your license suspended or to apply for an occupational license.
DWI 3rd Offense or Greater (Third degree FELONY)
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Ignition Interlock Device – required as a condition of bond while your case is pending as well as a condition of any occupational or provisional licenses after conviction.
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Fine – not to exceed $10,000.
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Jail – confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division (Penitentiary) for a term of not less than two (2) years nor more than ten (10) years
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Community Service – not less than 160 hours nor more than 600 hours.
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Other – mandatory rehabilitative treatment for alcohol/drugs
Intoxication Assault (Third degree FELONY)
A person commits intoxication assault if by accident or mistake, while operating a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated, a person by reason of that intoxication causes serious bodily injury to another. ‘Serious bodily injury’ means injury that creates a substantial risk of death or protrated loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.
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Fine – not to exceed $10,000.
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Jail – confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division (Penitentiary) for a term of not less than two (2) years nor more than (10) years.
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Community Service – not less than 160 hours nor more than 600 hours.
Intoxication Manslaughter (Second degree FELONY)
A person commits intoxication manslaughter if, while operating a motor vehicle in a public place, an intoxicated person, by reason of that intoxication, causes the death of another by accident or mistake.
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Fine – not to exceed $10,000
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Jail – confinement in the TX Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division (Penitentiary) for a term of not less than two (2) years nor more than twenty (20) years.
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Community Service – not less than 240 hours nor more than 800.
The DWI attorneys at Mercer & Keirnan are ready to fight hard for you. With more than 40 years of combined experience in DWI defense, our DWI attorneys can show you the best course of action to take. EMAIL US or CALL US NOW at (713) 208-7682 to talk to a DWI attorney for a free evaluation of your case.