Georgetown DWI Lawyer
Charged with DWI in Georgetown? The Texas Department of Public Safety must receive your request for an ALR hearing not later than the 15th day after you receive the notice of suspension, or the suspension may take effect. Texas Defense Team represents people charged with DWI in Williamson County, and a free consultation is available.
What Should I Do First After a DWI Arrest in Georgetown?
How long do I have to request an ALR hearing?
Two separate cases start when you are arrested for DWI: the criminal case, and a civil license case with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). The license case has a short clock. Under Tex. Transp. Code §524.031, a hearing is held if DPS receives a written request (or a request made another way DPS prescribes) not later than the 15th day after the date you receive notice of suspension, or are presumed to have received it. A timely request stays the suspension until the administrative law judge's final decision (§524.032(d)).
What happens to my license if I do not request one?
If no hearing is requested in time, the suspension can take effect. For an adult the statutory suspension period is 90 days if your driving record shows no alcohol-related or drug-related enforcement contact in the 10 years before the arrest, and one year if it shows one or more (§524.022(a)). If you refused a breath or blood specimen, the period is 180 days, or two years with such a contact in the prior 10 years (§724.035).
When does the 15-day clock start?
The 15 days are counted from the notice, not from your first court date, so call as soon as you can. Our team can read the notice with you and explain the deadline.
Sources: Texas Transportation Code §§524.022, 524.031, 524.032, 724.035 (official statute text). Verified October 16, 2026.
- Tex. Transp. Code §524.031 — Request for ALR hearing must be received by DPS not later than the 15th day after notice
- Tex. Transp. Code §524.022 — Adult suspension: 90 days, or one year with a prior enforcement contact in 10 years
- Tex. Transp. Code §724.035 — Refusal suspension: 180 days, or two years with a prior contact in 10 years
Which Court Handles a Georgetown DWI Case?
Which courts can hear a DWI?
Georgetown is the county seat of Williamson County and sits on Interstate Highway 35 north of Austin (Handbook of Texas Online). A first or second DWI is a misdemeanor and a third or later DWI is a felony (see the penalties below). Under the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, county courts have original jurisdiction of misdemeanors that are not within the exclusive jurisdiction of the justice court (Art. 4.07), and district courts have original jurisdiction of felonies (Art. 4.05). A municipal court's jurisdiction over state-law offenses is limited to those punishable by fine only (Art. 4.14(b)). DWI carries a minimum term of confinement, so it is not a fine-only offense.
Where will my case be heard?
That means a DWI charge from a Georgetown arrest is heard at the county level, or in district court if it is a felony, and not in a city court. The specific court and the prosecutor's office that handle your case depend on the charge and the cause number on your paperwork, and our team can confirm both once we have it. For local procedure, see our Williamson County DWI page and its DWI FAQ, or the Texas DWI hub.
Sources: Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Arts. 4.05, 4.07, 4.14 and the Handbook of Texas Online. Verified October 16, 2026.
What Are the Penalties for DWI in Georgetown?
Penalties are set by the Texas Penal Code and are the same in every county. As written in the statutes:
What are the penalties at each level?
| Offense | What the statute says |
|---|---|
| First DWI (§49.04) | Class B misdemeanor with a minimum term of confinement of 72 hours (six days if an open container was in the person's immediate possession). A Class B misdemeanor carries up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000 (§12.22). |
| Alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more (§49.04(d)) | Class A misdemeanor, up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000 (§12.21). |
| Second DWI (§49.09(a)) | Class A misdemeanor with a minimum term of confinement of 30 days. See our second-offense DWI guide. |
| Third or later DWI (§49.09(b)) | third-degree felony, two to 10 years and a fine of up to $10,000 (§12.34). |
| DWI with a passenger younger than 15 (§49.045) | state jail felony, 180 days to two years and a fine of up to $10,000 (§12.35). |
How should I read these ranges?
These are statutory ranges, not predictions. See our guides to a first-offense DWI and the cost of a DWI in Texas.
Sources: Texas Penal Code §§12.21, 12.22, 12.33, 12.34, 12.35, 49.04, 49.045, 49.07, 49.08, 49.09. Verified October 16, 2026.
- Tex. Penal Code §49.04 — DWI: Class B misdemeanor, 72-hour minimum; Class A at 0.15 or more
- Tex. Penal Code §49.09 — Second DWI Class A (30-day minimum); third or later, third-degree felony
- Tex. Penal Code §49.045 — DWI with child passenger under 15: state jail felony
Can a Georgetown DWI Charge Be Reduced or Dismissed?
What can an attorney review in a DWI case?
It may be, depending on the evidence in the specific case, and no lawyer can promise a result. The State must prove each element of the offense, including that the person was intoxicated while operating a motor vehicle in a public place (§49.04(a)). An attorney can review why the vehicle was stopped, how any roadside tests were given, how a breath or blood specimen was collected and analyzed, and what records exist, and then explain which of those issues may matter. The ALR hearing described above may also give your attorney an early look at the officer's account under oath.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different, and no outcome can be guaranteed.
How Much Does DWI Defense Cost?
How is DWI defense priced?
Texas Defense Team publishes flat fees for DWI defense, and the fee in your signed representation agreement is the fee that controls. See the fee schedule and our guide to the cost of a DWI in Texas, or call (512) 599-9000 for a free consultation.
What to do now
- Write down the date you received the notice of suspension.
- Count 15 days from that date: the Texas Department of Public Safety must receive your ALR hearing request by then.
- Call (512) 599-9000 so our team can read the notice with you and explain the deadline.
- Keep your arrest paperwork: the cause number shows which court handles your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to request an ALR hearing after a DWI arrest in Georgetown?+
Under Texas Transportation Code §524.031, the Texas Department of Public Safety must receive your request for a hearing not later than the 15th day after the date you receive the notice of suspension. A timely request stays the suspension until the administrative law judge's final decision (§524.032(d)). Call right away: the deadline runs from the notice, not from your court date.
Is a first DWI in Georgetown a felony?+
Generally no. A first DWI under Penal Code §49.04 is a Class B misdemeanor, or a Class A misdemeanor if a specimen showed an alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more. Some facts make it a felony: a passenger younger than 15 (§49.045, state jail felony) or operating in a school crossing zone during the reduced speed limit (§49.04(e), state jail felony).
Is there mandatory jail time for a first DWI in Georgetown?+
The statute sets a minimum term of confinement of 72 hours for a Class B DWI (six days with an open container), up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000 (§§49.04(b), (c), 12.22). How any confinement is served depends on the facts and how the case is resolved, so ask an attorney about your situation.
Where is a Georgetown DWI case heard?+
A DWI is not a fine-only offense, so it is not within a municipal court's state-law jurisdiction (Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 4.14(b)). Misdemeanor DWI is heard at the county level (Art. 4.07) and felony DWI in district court (Art. 4.05). Your cause number and paperwork show the specific court.