Dallas Public Intoxication of a Minor Defense Attorneys

With some of the most broadly defined public intoxication statutes in the country, police officers in Texas may arrest anyone they believe to be so intoxicated as to pose a threat to themselves or others. As such, Dallas police officers are not required to administer field sobriety tests to validate their suspicion prior to making an arrest. The Dallas public intoxication of a minor defense lawyers at the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter understand how devastating these charges can be, especially for Dallas individuals under the age of 21; we will do everything we can to help you protect your future.

If you have been charged with public intoxication in the Dallas area while under the legal drinking age of 21, our Dallas legal team will help you build a comprehensive defense against your charges.

What Does it Mean for a Juvenile to be Publicly Intoxicated?

Texas law makes clear that public intoxication is the act of appearing anywhere in a public location while intoxicated and under the influence of alcohol to the point that the person could pose a danger to others. There is no exception. Under this statute, even a minor under the age of 21 can be punished if they are caught appearing in public visibly intoxicated and posing a danger to others.

What does being intoxicated mean? Most people understand what being drunk looks or feels like, but there are different specifications for what constitutes intoxication under the law. Texas law specifies that intoxication is legally defined as not having the normal use of an individual’s mental or physical faculties due to alcohol, drugs, or a combination of these substances. A person can also be legally considered intoxicated if a test reveals they have a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or higher.

To fully understand the implications of public intoxication, it is also important to breakdown the definition of “public.” The law considers a public place to be any type of common area or space that members of the public have access to use. Public places can include schools, hospitals, offices, apartment buildings, streets and sidewalks, and parks. Bars and restaurants or places that serve alcohol are also technically considered public, so being intoxicated in a restaurant to the point where the individual or minor is posing a danger to other patrons or staff members could result in a public intoxication charge.

Texas’s Zero Tolerance Policy

Texas takes underage drinking very seriously, hence the state’s Zero Tolerance Policy. Zero tolerance is a tool that law enforcement and the juvenile justice system uses to impart the gravity of drunk driving and alcohol-related crimes to minors. The policy also applies strict penalties to minors who are caught possessing or consuming alcohol.

While these laws are typically used to deter and punish minors for alcohol-related driving offenses, they can also be applied to non-driving situations. Minors under the age of 21 can face serious penalties for any form of alcohol-related offense, including purchasing alcohol, consuming alcohol, or possessing an alcoholic beverage. These penalties scale up depending on the number of prior offenses on a minor’s record. Breaking the Zero Tolerance Policy in Texas not only carries the potential for legal consequences, but it can also impact a minor’s future.

Penalties for Public Intoxication of a Minor

A conviction for public intoxication as a minor has the potential to severely affect your opportunities to apply to college, find work, and secure a place to live. Aside from these long term consequences, minors convicted of public intoxication may be subject to the same penalties Dallas adults face for public intoxication, including:

  • Fines not to exceed $500 (for a first-time charge)
  • Driver’s license suspension
  • Mandatory community service hours

Whatever the circumstances of your arrest were, it may be critical for you to consult with an experienced Dallas criminal defense attorney to better determine what your legal options may be.

Why You Need an Experienced Juvenile Defense Attorney

The juvenile justice system is not unlike its adult counterpart. It can be difficult to understand, and navigating your way through the system to achieve the most positive outcome for your child can be challenging. Some people think that a juvenile charge is not “as serious” as an adult charge. This is not the case. Having a criminal record as a minor can significantly impact a person’s ability to seek higher education, a job, and potentially even a place to live.

Taking a public intoxication or any alcohol-related charge seriously is a must. The best way to protect your child’s future is by retaining dedicated and experienced legal representation immediately. The team at Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter has a solid record of helping clients and their families maneuver through the juvenile justice system. We want to help you take steps to make sure your child’s future is safe.

Consult With a Dallas Public Intoxication of a Minor Defense Attorney

At the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter, our Dallas public intoxication of a minor attorneys will work with you to challenge any and all of the aspects of your arrest in an effort to reduce or altogether eliminate your charges. To discuss the particulars of your case with a member of our legal team, please call our Dallas offices at (214) 845-7007.

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TESTIMONIALS

Recommendation for Mark LassiterI am pleased to write a letter of recommendation. I highly recommend Mark Lassiter to others who are seeking such assistance. His representation allowed me to do very little in my case. It was Mark’s proven expertise and his legal knowledge that was valuable in getting my case dismissed. In short, I recommend Mark enthusiastically without reservation and I do believe he would be a valuable asset to you.

- Name Redacted

dear Markplease accept this letter on my and Susan’s behalf. there is a powerful message and testimony we would like to share with you for the first time.for over a year the weight of what happened to Reid was heavy on our souls. at first we held great anger, resentment and disgust toward Angel (the passenger). it became evident after turning 21 the Angel has a severe alcohol problem which my son nor us fully understood. The arrest also brought us great disappointment, frustration and disheartenment toward Reid.We have found that God often surprises us with his answers to our prayers. Prior to the arrest was had been in prayer that God help turn Reid away from selfishness, childishness and destructive ways. We prayed that God move to change him toward everlasting values and better choices in his life. We believe that God answered that prayer with the arrest. We blamed ourselves for bringing this calamity but understood it would take something this powerful to reach him. There is no doubt in our minds this ordeal has placed a permanent imprint on his soul.during the many delays associated with this case we were able to put forgiveness in our hearts toward Angel. Also during the many delays the full weight of the case in our and Reid’s mind triggered conversations pertaining to life decisions and direction. Time allowed us the opportunity to be rid of the noise and cloudiness of our emotions. We believe this to be a part of the master plan that God was overseeing.Only today did the full story become revealed. During this case with all the odds against us can we say without question that God was in it. How else could the series of events occurred within the judicial process that could put the opportunity in to your mind that there was a way to victory. The entire morning Susan and i were in fervent prayer even after your told us we had only a 25% chance of winning.Grace is the receipt of a blessing that is undeserved. Reid did not deserve to win today. We all are eternally marked by the message of grace given to us and you were the instrument that brought the gift to our house. Thank you from bottom of our souls and may God bless and keep you all of your days.

- Name Redacted

Dear Mr. Lassiter,Today you saved my son’s life. When he received a DWI, it broke my heart because I knew it would be on his record forever. It would limit his options in life. He would be paying for his stupid mistake for the rest of his life. At 21 years of age he was overwhelmed with the depth of the problem he created for himself.I decided to find him the best lawyer in Dallas, and I did. I researched lawyers for two days, and then I found you. I knew from the moment I read about you that you were the one we needed. When I met you, I knew instantly that I had complete confidence in you. Even if the result had ended with my son being guilty, I would have had peace knowing that he had had THE BEST lawyer.Listening to you “own” the courtroom today was amazing. You told us in the morning that we only had about 25% chance to win; however, by the middle of the afternoon the case was over before the prosecutors even finished, and we won! What an incredible lawyer you are!I will be grateful forever to you. Your work has given my son a second chance. He left the courtroom today with a whole new perspective on life…thanks to you!Very sincerely,

- Susan Ellis

unless you are already a petty criminal with countless B and C misdemeanors and a misdemeanor A pending, a DWI charge might not really matter much – for all the others counts: Fight it with all you got – get the best professional to your side you can find!Why should you? A simple google search “Texas DWI penalties” will give you an idea what you are looking at: prison, probation, fines, classes, ignition interlock, insurance rate skyrockets and a criminal record for life (yes – this can happen even for a first time DWI in Texas) Now if you read until this point you probably are charged with a DWI (or simply board) and you are shopping for a lawyer – so some basic guidance:a) Same as in real life: You want to be surrounded by people who know what they are talking about. Nobody likes people who constantly brag around, through around the usual business buzz words which doesn’t mean anything. So: Get somebody who is specialized in this field, means if 50% or more of his work is in the field of defending DWI’s that’s probably a good indicator– Mark is one of them – talk to him you will see!b) Educate yourself – thanks to a wonderful innovation by DARPA (which you are using in this moment) you can read all about it: What happened the night before, what’s a SFT, what is a legal stop, how does an Intoxilyzer 5000 work and what flaws does it have, possible plea bargain options (not so tempting ones in TX anyway) – read the stuff, it’s out there and discuss it with your attorney – if he doesn’t want or can’t answer your questions, that’s a pretty good indicator that your sitting in the wrong office, run!– Mark WILL answer your questions – and I’m convinced you cannot surprise him with a question in your case that he can’t answer or will find an answer for you!c) Your lawyer should – more or less – from the beginning be willing to take your case to Trial, all the way. What do you have to lose? If you are a BAC 0.28 candidate and you plea it down to a misdemeanor B it technically looks better on paper – but it will still follow you for life (most employers wouldn’t even consider the difference or know it – a DWI is a DWI…) If you are a BAC 0.09 candidate your chances are even better – (did you know the Intoxilyzer 5000 gives himself a +-0.02 calibration margin? What now, is a BAC 0.09 and hour after driving now under the legal limit? Guess what, the state will state “off course NOT! The magic machine proved he’s Intoxicated and guilty!” That’s why you need a lawyer on your side who is willing to take it to trial!– Mark is a trial lawyer – those people don’t want to plea out, they need the courtroom as their stage, that’s what they love to do, that’s what they are good at – so let him do it for you!d) Money / Costs – completely neglect. This is not the time for price comparison. You are not out there to shop for new hardwood floor for your living room – you are out there to get the best possible outcome in a situation which initial will hurt you if convicted pretty bad (financially), possible cost you your job, destroy your reputation and will follow you around for the rest of your natural life.– Mark will not overcharge you for his service, in my opinion you are getting a great deal. If you have the feeling you cannot afford a lawyer like Mark put it into perspective: if you hire a $500 lawyer and plead guilty maybe to a DWI misdemeanor B, you will pay much more over the years in court costs, classes, probation fees, DPS surcharges, insurance and and and… But if you hire Mark, you have one of the best at your side, you have a real chance – off course Mark isn’t a magic wizard who can make everything go away in a moment’s notice, but 5,10,20 years down the road you don’t want to think “oh boy, I wish I would have fought this thing more aggressively back then…” I was already a bit into my case when I met Mark. Mark has a can do attitude, does not try to beat around the bush and most importantly: He looks at things, tries different avenues, seeks out weaknesses in the case base on the evidence presented – if you meet him, you will have the same experience. During our meetings we discussed alternatives and other options e.g. expert witnesses, jury trial, bench trial, plea agreement (even if he didn’t like that – Mark doesn’t want to plea, he wants to win for his clients)And here is the outcome:A clear acquittal – NOT GUILTY(even better than a dismissal which technically can be reopened by the DA within the statute of limitations – if I understood that right – Not guilty means you are not guilty, case expunged – that’s the end of it!)Mark’s services helped me to get the best possible outcome you can expect when you are charged with a (DWI / DUI) crime and I hope I will never see him again….. (under such circumstances J ) –

- Daniel

I would never use or recommend anyone else for anybody else for a criminal manner.

- Cory M.
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