Sporting events are a cornerstone of the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) community, bringing fans together to cheer for their favorite teams, from the Dallas Cowboys to the Texas Rangers. However, these celebrations often coincide with increased alcohol consumption, leading to a rise in incidents of driving while intoxicated (DWI). In North Texas, law enforcement agencies and policymakers have implemented targeted measures to address this issue, including heightened enforcement efforts, public awareness campaigns, and strict legal penalties.

The Connection Between Sporting Events and DWI Incidents in North Texas

Major sporting events, such as Dallas Cowboys games or the Super Bowl, are often associated with increased alcohol consumption. Super Bowl Sunday is one of the most common days for DWI arrests nationwide, and North Texas is no exception. Local law enforcement agencies, including those in Dallas and Fort Worth, report significant spikes in DWI arrests during these events. This applies to the courts too, as some Tarrant County DWI Judges order everyone on bond or probation to provide a drug test after Super Bowl Sunday.

Legal Framework and Enforcement Strategies in North Texas

To combat the rise in DWI incidents during sporting events, North Texas law enforcement agencies employ a combination of legal and preventive measures:

1. Sobriety Checkpoints and Saturation Patrols
   Texas rarely establishes “sobriety checkpoints”. A sobriety checkpoint is where police test everyone in each area, not just those suspected of DWI. However, police in North Texas rely heavily on saturation patrols, where officers concentrate their efforts in specific areas to detect and deter impaired drivers.
2. “No-Refusal” Policies
   Many counties in North Texas, including Tarrant County, have adopted “no refusal” policies, particularly during major events like the Super Bowl. Under these policies, if a driver refuses to submit to a breath or blood test, law enforcement can quickly obtain a warrant to compel a blood draw. However, “no refusal” is not the law, regardless of the police scare tactics. You always have a right to refuse to voluntarily provide breath or blood.
3. Public Awareness Campaigns
   Publicity is a critical component of DWI prevention. Campaigns such as “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk” leverage media, sports figures, and community outreach to promote safe choices and discourage impaired driving. In North Texas, police often announce “no-refusal” weekends and increase patrols in advance, using press releases and social media to raise awareness and encourage compliance.
4. Legal Penalties for DWI Offenses
   Texas imposes strict penalties for DWI offenses, which vary based on factors such as prior convictions and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels. For example, a first-time DWI offense in Texas is typically a Class B misdemeanor, with enhanced penalties for higher BAC levels or repeat offenses [Tex. Penal Code § 49.04 Tex. Penal Code § 49.09]. In cases involving serious injury or death, the charges can escalate to felonies, carrying significant prison time [Tex. Penal Code § 49.09 Tex. Transp. Code § 724.012].

If you’ve been arrested in Norrth Texas, expert DWI Attorney Mimi Coffey can help!  Mimi Coffey is Board Certified in DWI defense by the NCDD.  Check out our website  www.mimicoffey.com

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For certain DWI convictions, the law requires days of jail as a condition of probation. The good news is that a First Time misdemeanor DWI conviction does not have this requirement. The jail time as a condition of probation only comes into effect on a second or more DWI Conviction, or for Intoxication Assault or Intoxication Manslaughter conviction. The minimum days of a jail as a condition of probation is as follows:

• 72 hours (3 days) of continuous confinement on a second DWI conviction (Class A Misdemeanor);
• 5 days if the second DWI conviction occurred within 5 years of the first DWI conviction;
• 10 days on a third or more DWI conviction (felony);
• 30 days on an Intoxication Assault conviction; and
• 120 days on an Intoxication Manslaughter conviction.

This problem becomes worse when the State moves to revoke probation. If the court revokes probation and sentences you to jail or prison, then the days of jail spent as a condition of probation do not count for calculating credit for time served.

More about Mimi Coffey & The Coffey Firm

When people look for a Top DWI Attorney or Best DWI Attorney, they look for experience, certification, and respect in the legal community. Mimi Coffey is a nationally-renowned trial attorney, board-certified in DWI by the NCDD. She has been practicing for over 24 years and is an author of multiple DWI Defense textbooks. She is also a national and state-wide lecturer on the law.

The Coffey Firm handles a wide variety of cases, including Unlawful Carrying Weapon (UCW), Assault (including family violence), and Possession charges. We can also help you try to get a DWI off your record or avoid probation revocation.

Mimi is also listed on several “top criminal lawyer near me” directory listings such as Wise County DWI Lawyers, Tarrant County DWI Lawyer, Dallas County DWI attorney, Collin County DWI attorneys and Parker County DWI attorneys. Mimi is a caring DWI Lawyer in Dallas – Fort Worth. She is also involved in the Texas Tech School of Law foundation and enjoys using the skills she has developed to give back to the community.

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• Can I get my DWI dismissed? If so, how? How likely is dismissal of my DWI?
• I have heard of people reducing their DWI cases to “obstruction of a highway”. What is “obstruction of a highway?” How likely is it to get an “obstruction of a highway?”
• Will a DWI conviction be on my record forever?

At the Coffey Firm, we believe in straight talk. Mimi does not advertise “DWI dismissals” or “DWI reduced to Obstruction” for the following reasons:

• Very few DWI cases result in DWI dismissals. A check with the county clerk in any county will confirm this. The percentage of DWI cases resulting in dismissal to the those resulting in conviction are very few. The numbers vary from county to county and are dependent on a host of factors. The Coffey Firm does get dismissals and reductions but these are very fact and case dependent. No one result of a particular case is any indicator of the probability of another case’s disposition.
• Every DWI case stands on its own. It is not possible to “hear the circumstances” of a DWI case and assess its outcome. With every DWI, a full case review is necessary to determine the best course of action. A full blown case analysis includes discussing the facts as it relates to both sides, going over the police report and videos, and ascertaining the legalities of the situation. Also, to understanding the people and policies involved of the judge and prosecutor.
• There are a host of possibilities that may occur when one moves forward for a trial or motion. These possibilities include options that would never occur in a plea bargain. We are happy to discuss these with you when you retain us to represent you on your case.

Obstruction of a Highway

Obstruction of a highway or passageway is a Class B misdemeanor. The implications in a DWI context is to reach a settlement of the DWI case to avoid a DWI conviction. Most people are desirous of avoiding a DWI conviction. It is important to note that many DWIs do not receive this option. What this means, how it looks, and the implications and conditions of an obstruction of a highway are something we look forward to discussing with you, should it occur, in the representation of your case. It is important to note that there are distinct advantages to having your case reduced to an obstruction of a highway.

Will a DWI Dismissal stay on my record permanently?

The answer to that case use to be yes subject to a pardon by the Governor. Now the answer is a very complex one depending on your past arrest records and the facts of your DWI situation. Once we have resolved your case, we can then determine your eligibility for any options that involve sealing or expunging your record.

More about Mimi Coffey

When people look for a Top DWI Attorney or Best DWI Attorney, they look for experience, certification, and respect in the legal community. Mimi Coffey is a nationally-renowned trial attorney, board-certified in DWI by the NCDD. She has been practicing for over 24 years and is an author of multiple DWI Defense textbooks. She is also a national and state-wide lecturer on the law.

The Coffey Firm handles a wide variety of cases, including Unlawful Carrying Weapon (UCW), Assault (including family violence), and Possession charges. We can also help you try to seal your record or avoid probation revocation.

Mimi is also listed on several “top” directory listings such as DWI Lawyers for Wise County, DWI Lawyer Tarrant County, DWI Lawyer Dallas County, DWI Lawyer Collin County and DWI Lawyer Parker County. Mimi is a caring DWI Lawyer in DFW, She is also involved in the Texas Tech School of Law foundation and enjoys using the skills she has developed to give back to the community.

The post DWI Dismissal & Obstruction of the Highway appeared first on DWI Attorneys and Criminal Defense Lawyers.

A DWI arrest may result in a suspension of your Texas Driver’s License. Having an experienced DWI law firm behind you is very important in protecting your rights. It is *incredibly* important to have a DWI Lawyer experienced in protecting your Texas Driver’s License.

How can The Coffey Firm help with my Texas Driver’s License after a DWI arrest?

The Coffey Firm is very familiar with the DWI license suspension process, described in more detail below, and has multiple lawyers who handle the ALR hearings. We even have one DWI lawyer dedicated to ALRs and other Texas Driver’s License matters. This includes petitioning for clients to obtain an Occupational Driver’s License (ODL) to allow clients to drive for essential needs during a DWI suspension. Rest assured that The Coffey Firm will fight to protect your Texas Driver’s License to allow you to live your life with as few restrictions as possible.

DWI and ALR Driver License Suspension

The main suspension that affects a person arrested for DWI is call the Administrative License Revocation (ALR) suspension. After police make a DWI arrest, the law requires them to read what is called a ‘statutory warning’ (DIC-24) to the person arrested for DWI. This warning goes over the consequences of giving breath or blood (a “failure” case if BAC is .08 or higher), and the consequences of *refusing* to give breath or blood. If you “refuse,” police must obtain a warrant to do a DWI blood draw. Keep in mind that on a ‘refusal’ case, DPS only has to prove everything up to the refusal itself. This means that for a ‘refusal’ case, DPS does not care about the actual blood result.

You have 15 days from the date of arrest (not the date of release or date of charge) to request the ALR hearing.

The consequences of a “failure” case are a 90 day suspension on a first time DWI arrest or a 1 year suspension for a second or more DWI arrest within 10 years. However, if you have a prior older than 10 years, then the clock essentially resets back to the first time DWI arrest. For example, a DWI arrest in 2023 when your prior occurred in 1991 will mean you only face a 90 day suspension in a ‘failure’ case.

The consequences of a ‘refusal’ case are a 180 day suspension on a first time DWI arrest or a 2 year suspension on a second or more DWI arrest within 10 years. As with the ‘failure’ cases, a prior DWI arrest from over 10 years ago does not affect you. So, a prior DWI suspension from 1991 would not affect a 2023 DWI suspension, at least for the ALR.

How does the DWI criminal case affect my Drivers License suspension?

If a jury finds you not guilty of DWI, then the ALR suspension goes away once DPS receives notice of the DWI not guilty.

But, here is the bad news: the criminal case *generally* does not affect your ALR drivers license suspension. This means that even if the State never files a DWI case against you or gives you a DWI dismissal or DWI reduction, that the ALR suspension would not go away.

The other bad news: a DWI conviction may result in a *separate* drivers license suspension. The law allows for the criminal court to issue its own DWI suspension upon a DWI conviction. This criminal suspension ranges from 90 days on the low end (first time DWI convictions) up to 2 years.

GOOD NEWS, though: on a first time DWI conviction, courts give credit for any ALR suspension already completed. In other words, the court may give you a 90 day criminal suspension, but with credit for 90 day ALR suspension. This would mean no separate suspension on more than paper. Similarly, on a first time DWI conviction there will typically be no separate criminal suspension if you receive DWI probation and that probation requires you to complete a DWI Education Program and/or requires you to only drive vehicles with an ignition interlock installed.

What if I have a Texas CDL? Does that change anything?

Short answer: yes, having a CDL makes quite a bit of difference.

The Texas CDL primarily affects the criminal case and eligibility for DWI deferred. But, having a Texas CDL also impacts your Texas Drivers License suspensions in a strange way. The base suspension does not change, but a CDL holder may receive a CDL disqualification *separate* from the regular license suspension. A first time DWI with a CDL results in a 1 year CDL disqualification on top of the base suspension. A second results in a lifetime CDL disqualification. (*however, the law does allow for a person to reapply for a CDL after a certain amount of time following the disqualification). This means that even once the ALR suspension ends, the disqualification would prevent driving commercial vehicles, which may place employment at risk for most CDL holders.

The Coffey Firm is dedicated to protecting your CDL so that a first time DWI does not ruin your life! Our DWI Lawyers know how important your CDL is to making a living and will fight hard so that you can keep your job.

What are the consequences to driving without a Texas Driver’s License?

The main consequence that you place yourself at risk of a Driving While License Invalid (DWLI) Or While License Suspended (DWLS) ticket. Fortunately, both of these are fine-only traffic tickets most of the time. However, there are circumstances that would raise it to a Class B Misdemeanor. One of those is driving without insurance. More importantly, though, is that if it was as DWI suspension the DWLI becomes a Class B Misdemeanor. This means that rather than simply paying a ticket, police may arrest you. This is why The Coffey Firm helps clients obtain an Occupational Drivers License in the event of a suspension. With the ODL, the court grants you permission to drive for essential need during the suspension, meaning that you are legal to drive within the restrictions set by the court.

More about Mimi Coffey & The Coffey Firm

When people look for a Top DWI Attorney or Best DWI Attorney, they look for experience, certification, and respect in the legal community. Mimi Coffey is a nationally-renowned trial attorney, board-certified in DWI by the NCDD. She has been practicing for over 24 years and is an author of multiple DWI Defense textbooks. She is also a national and state-wide lecturer on the law.

The Coffey Firm handles a wide variety of cases, including Unlawful Carrying Weapon (UCW), Assault (including family violence), and Possession charges. We can also help you try to get a DWI off your record or avoid probation revocation.

Mimi is also listed on several “top criminal lawyer near me” directory listings such as Wise County DWI Lawyers, Tarrant County DWI Lawyer, Dallas County DWI attorney, Collin County DWI attorneys and Parker County DWI attorneys. Mimi is a caring DWI Lawyer in Dallas – Fort Worth. She is also involved in the Texas Tech School of Law foundation and enjoys using the skills she has developed to give back to the community.

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In Texas, a single mistake behind the wheel can leave a lasting mark. But thanks to the Second Chance Law, some first-time DWI offenders now have a legal pathway to move forward—without their past following them at every turn.

What Is the Second Chance Law?

The Texas Second Chance Law allows certain individuals convicted of a first-time, non-violent DWI to seal their criminal record through an Order of Nondisclosure. This means the record is hidden from public view—employers, landlords, and most background checks won’t see it—but it’s still accessible to law enforcement and government agencies.

Who Qualifies for the Second Chance Law?

To be eligible, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• First-time DWI offense (no prior convictions)
• Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) below 0.15%
• No accident involving another person involved in the incident
• Completed all court-ordered requirements, including probation, fines, and alcohol education
• No additional criminal charges before or after the DWI

If your case involved a child passenger, bodily injury, or a BAC above 0.15%, you are unfortunately disqualified from this relief.

Waiting Periods

The law includes mandatory waiting periods before you can apply:

These timelines are designed to ensure that applicants demonstrate sustained good behavior before sealing their records.

How to Apply

Here’s a simplified roadmap:

1. Gather documentation: Court records, proof of completed requirements, and personal identification.
2. File a petition: Submit to the court that handled your case.
3. Attend a hearing (if required): Be prepared to show compliance and good conduct.

Why It Matters

A sealed record can open doors that a DWI conviction might otherwise slam shut—especially when applying for jobs, housing, or professional licenses. In a state like Texas, where DWI penalties have grown stricter in recent years, this law offers a rare and valuable lifeline.

What the Second Chance Law DOES NOT Do

It’s important to note: This is not expungement. Your record isn’t erased—it’s just hidden from public view. Law enforcement and courts can still access it, and it may still impact certain legal proceedings or licensing applications.

If you or someone you know is navigating the aftermath of a DWI, the Second Chance Law might be the key to a fresh start. It’s not a free pass—but it is a powerful reminder that one mistake doesn’t have to define your future.

Want help exploring how this might apply to your situation? Please contact the DWI Lawyers at The Coffey Firm for a free consultation today!

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