DWI/DUI Lawyer East Texas
After an arrest for Driving under the Influence (DWI / DUI), call us to discuss the best strategies to fight the charge. Erick Platten is focused exclusively on criminal defense with an emphasis on fighting DWI DUI cases.Erick Platten is available after hours or on weekends to answer your questions. We make it easy to schedule a phone or office consultation so you can speak directly with him.During the consultation, he can help you understand the best ways to protect your rights. Contact us about the 15-day rule to protect your driver’s license. Contact us to find out why we recommend demanding an in person hearing to contest the administrative suspension within fifteen (15) days of the arrest.Call 903-593-9100 or text 903-570-8248 today.
Hire a Local and Trusted DWI Defense AttorneyHiring an experienced attorney early in your case is crucial to protecting your privilege to drive and increasing your chances of avoiding a conviction.Erick Platten takes a full-service approach to defending each aspect of the case including:· Demanding the formal review hearing to protect your driver’s license from the administrative suspension within fifteen (15) days after the arrest;· Waiving the first court date (called the “arraignment”);· Filing and litigating all pre-trial motion hearings which can include a motion to suppress evidence;· Negotiating with the prosecutor to resolve the case for a reduced punishment such as probation or reduced days in jail to avoid probation entirely;· Conducting a jury trial for a “not guilty” verdict.Erick Platten and his criminal defense team at Platten Law have extensive experience defending DWI cases, from first-time offenders to felony charges for Intoxication offenses, including:
- Driving while intoxicated (DWI)
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Intoxication assault (car accident with injuries)
- Intoxication Manslaughter / Criminally Negligent Homicide
- Underage Drinking and Driving (DUI) Under 21
- DWI with child passenger
- Commercial Driver DWI / 18 Wheeler DWI (CDL license)
The severity of these charges and accompanying punishments vary, depending on factors such as blood alcohol level, prior offenses, whether there was a child in the car, and the speed of the car. The penalties for conviction range from license suspension and jail time to steep fines and DPS administrative surcharge fees. Successfully defending people against DWI/DUI charges requires extensive knowledge of the laws, police procedures, and the consequences. Because laws and detection techniques are constantly changing, Erick Platten attends frequent seminars, workshops, and classes on DUI defense throughout the country.DWI Certifications:Erick is also certified as a Intoxilyzer 5000 Maintence Tech/Operator through the Stephen Rose M.D. Course on Alcohol/Highway Safety C.E.S. Consulting West Palm Beach, Florida in 2003.NHTSA -- Field Sobriety Testing Certification through Walden Platt and Associates in 2002. This is the same certification law enforcement officers are supposed to have before engaging in conducting Field Sobriety Testing. Erick Platten is Certified in the following tests and can evaluate a video to determine if an officer has deviated from the standards proscribed by NHTSA. The Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus TestThe Nine (9) step Walk and Turn TestThe One Leg Stand Test Erick is also trained in gas chromatography. Gas Chromatography is the process used to determine the level of alcohol or other substances in your blood. These tests are subject to human error and allowable tolerances of error. Below is a video on Gas Chromatography from the Royal Society of Chemistry.