⏱ 15-Day ALR Deadline: Miss this window and you lose your right to contest the license suspension. Request a hearing immediately.
Summary
A DWI arrest in Fort Worth starts two cases at once: a criminal charge in Tarrant County and a license suspension case through Texas DPS. You have 15 days to request an ALR hearing or the suspension takes effect automatically. Both cases carry serious consequences, and how you handle the first 24 hours affects both.
Immediate Action Required
Arrested For DWI In Fort Worth? What Happens Next
An arrest for DWI in Tarrant County sets two clocks running at the same moment. One is the criminal case, filed through the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s office. The other is a license suspension case, filed separately by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Neither one pauses for the other.
The first hours matter most. Whatever was said at the scene or at the jail can become evidence later, and silence protects you more than an explanation ever will. If you were released on bond, read your conditions carefully. Tarrant County DWI bonds often include an ignition interlock requirement and a no-alcohol condition, and violating either one creates a second problem on top of the original charge.
The ALR Deadline You Cannot Miss In Tarrant County
Refusing a breath test does not stop the case. It triggers an automatic 180-day suspension Administrative License Revocation hearing. File in time and the suspension is paused while the hearing is pending. Miss the deadline and the suspension begins automatically on day 40, whether or not you ever intended to fight it.
What To Do If You Refused A Breathalyzer In Fort Worth
Refusing a breath test does not stop the case. It triggers an automatic 180-day suspension instead of the 90 days that applies to a failed test, and officers routinely seek a blood draw warrant when a driver refuses. If a warrant is granted, the result becomes available to the prosecution regardless of the earlier refusal.
Key Definitions
What Is A DWI In Texas? Definitions You Need To Know
Court Process
The DWI Court Process At Tim Curry Justice Center
Every DWI case filed in Tarrant County moves through the same building and largely the same sequence, though the pace depends on the specific court and the facts. The DWI legal process and your rights in Tarrant County explains each stage of that process in more detail.
Credentials
Why Board Certification & Prosecution Experience Matter
What Board Certification In Criminal Law Means
Board Certification in Criminal Law through the Texas Board of Legal Specialization is not a marketing label. It requires a written examination, a documented history of substantial criminal law practice, judicial references, and ongoing legal education specific to criminal defense. Fewer than ten percent of Texas attorneys ever earn any board certification at all.
A Former Tarrant County Prosecutor On Your Side
Gary Medlin has been Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1989. Before founding The Medlin Law Firm in 1993, he served as an assistant district attorney in Tarrant County for nearly a decade, prosecuting cases in the same courts where he now defends clients. That perspective matters in a Tarrant County DWI case specifically, since he has seen how the Criminal District Attorney’s office builds these cases from the inside. He has been licensed in Texas since 1983.
40+
Years In Texas Criminal Law
1989
Board Certified Since
2
Offices Serving North Texas
Driver’s License Protection
Protecting Your License After A DWI Arrest In Fort Worth
Penalties By Offense Level
Texas DWI Penalties By Offense Level: Full Breakdown
Texas grades DWI penalties by offense level and by specific aggravating facts. DWI charges, penalties, and Texas law in Tarrant County explains how those offense levels differ and how particular facts can affect the charge and potential penalties.
| Offense | Classification | Jail / Prison | Maximum Fine | License Suspension |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st DWI | Class B Misdemeanor | 72 hours to 180 days | $2,000 | 90 days to 1 year |
| 1st DWI, BAC 0.15 Or Higher | Class A Misdemeanor | Up to 1 year | $4,000 | 90 days to 1 year |
| 2nd DWI | Class A Misdemeanor | 30 days to 1 year | $4,000 | 180 days to 2 years |
| 3rd DWI | 3rd-Degree Felony | 2 to 10 years | $10,000 | Up to 2 years |
| DWI With Child Passenger | State Jail Felony | 180 days to 2 years | $10,000 | 180 days to 2 years |
| Intoxication Assault | 3rd-Degree Felony | 2 to 10 years | $10,000 | Up to 2 years |
| Intoxication Manslaughter | 2nd-Degree Felony | 2 to 10 years | $10,000 | Up to 2 years |
In addition to the fines shown above, Texas law imposes a separate state-assessed fee that can range from $3,000 to $6,000
depending on prior convictions and test results. Ask your attorney to walk through the full financial exposure, not just the base
fine.
When A DWI Becomes A Felony In Texas
A DWI becomes a felony under several circumstances: a third or subsequent conviction, a child passenger under 15 in the vehicle, or a case involving serious injury (intoxication assault) or death (intoxication manslaughter). Texas law also elevates a DWI committed in an active school crossing zone to a state jail felony under a 2025 legislative change, regardless of prior record.
DISMISSAL & REDUCTION
How A DWI Charge Gets Dismissed Or Reduced In Texas
A DWI charge is an accusation, not a conviction. Issues that may arise in a DWI case include the legality of the stop, field sobriety testing, chemical test results, video evidence, and the circumstances surrounding the arrest. DWI defense strategies and evidence in Texas covers these legal and evidentiary issues in more detail.
Attorney Costs & Billing
What The Medlin Law Firm Charges: One Flat Fee, No Surprises
Why A Flat Fee Protects You Through Every Stage
At The Medlin Law Firm, one flat fee covers your case from the first filing through trial, if trial becomes necessary. Fees for a misdemeanor DWI in Fort Worth commonly range from $3,500 to $9,500. You will know that number before you sign anything, and it will not change if your case turns out to be more contested than expected.
What Happens If You Choose Hourly Billing Instead
Some attorneys bill hourly instead of charging a flat fee. Hourly billing can look lower at the very start of a case, but there is no ceiling on the total. A case that requires motions, hearings, or trial can run well past any early estimate, and the final number is not known until the case is over.
| BILLING MODEL | HOW IT WORKS | WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU |
|---|---|---|
| Flat Fee (The Medlin Law Firm) | One amount, covers every stage including trial | You know the total cost before you decide anything |
| Hourly Rate | Billed per hour worked | Total cost is unknown until the case concludes |
Payment Plans Available At Our Fort Worth Office
Cost should never be the reason someone delays getting help. Our Fort Worth office works directly with clients on payment arrangements, and that conversation happens plainly during your case evaluation, not after you have already signed an agreement.
LONG-TERM RECORD CONSEQUENCES
Long-Term Consequences Of A DWI On Your Texas Record
How A DWI Affects Your Professional License In Texas
Nurses, teachers, real estate agents, CDL holders, and other licensed professionals in Texas can face a licensing board review after a DWI arrest, independent of whatever happens in the criminal case. That process runs on its own timeline and often moves faster than people expect.
Can A DWI Be Expunged Or Sealed In Texas?
A dismissed DWI charge may be expungeable under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. Chapter 55A, depending on the specific circumstances and applicable waiting periods. A conviction is not. Nondisclosure is available only in narrow circumstances depending on how the case resolved, and it seals a record rather than destroying it. Understanding which category your case falls into matters before you agree to any plea.
Hiring Guide
How To Choose The Right DWI Attorney In Fort Worth
Not every DWI attorney in Fort Worth handles these cases the same way, and the questions you ask before hiring one tell you a great deal about what to expect afterward.
Questions To Ask During Your Free Consultation
Are you Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization?
How many DWI cases have you personally handled in Tarrant County courts?
Have you tried a DWI case before a Tarrant County jury, and when?
Will you personally handle my case, or will it be passed to another attorney?
Does your fee include trial, or is that billed separately later?
Will you handle my ALR hearing as part of the engagement?
How will you communicate with me between court dates?
Based on what I have told you, what stands out about my case so far?
What is the realistic range of outcomes given the facts as you understand them?
Have you appeared before the judges and prosecutors currently assigned to my court?
Red Flags To Watch For When Evaluating Attorneys
An attorney who guarantees a specific result before reviewing your file is telling you something you should not believe. An attorney who cannot explain clearly what the fee covers is setting up a disagreement later. Verify board certification directly at texasbar.com and txbls.com before signing anything.
LOCAL COURTS & JURISDICTION
DWI Defense In Tarrant County: Courts & Jurisdiction
Every DWI case filed in Tarrant County, misdemeanor or felony, is heard inside the same building in downtown Fort Worth.
Cities & Areas Served Across Tarrant County
The Medlin Law Firm handles DWI cases throughout Tarrant County, including Fort Worth, Arlington, Keller, Southlake, Colleyville, Grapevine, North Richland Hills, Hurst, Bedford, Euless, Mansfield, Burleson, and Crowley.
SPECIALIZED SITUATIONS
DWI Defense For Specific Situations In Fort Worth
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About DWI In Fort Worth
Speak With A Fort Worth DWI Attorney Today
Speak With A Fort Worth DWI Attorney Today
A DWI case in Tarrant County moves quickly, and so does the ALR deadline. The Medlin Law Firm has represented clients across Tarrant County for decades. Gary Medlin has been Board Certified in Criminal Law since 1989 and spent nearly a decade as a Tarrant County prosecutor before founding this firm.
We review the charge, the evidence, and the deadlines, and give you a straightforward view of where your case stands. Schedule a confidential case evaluation, or book an online consultation directly from this page.
