Princeton DWI Attorney

Life Along US-380

Princeton has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, and almost all of that growth funnels onto one road: US-380, which runs through the middle of town toward McKinney eight miles west. Heavy traffic, frequent construction, shifting lane markings, and long stretches without lighting give officers plenty of reasons to make a stop, and give the defense plenty of reasons to question one.

A Princeton DWI arrest may be made by the Princeton Police Department in town or by a state trooper on US-380. Either way, the case is prosecuted by the Collin County District Attorney’s Office and heard at the Russell A. Steindam Courts Building, 2100 Bloomdale Road, McKinney, just a short drive west.

Questions Worth Asking About a US-380 Stop

• Was there a real violation? Construction zones and temporary lane markings make lane-violation stops easy to allege and hard to prove. The video decides.
• Where were the tests given? A narrow shoulder next to fast traffic, gravel, or an uneven construction area is not the flat, dry surface the tests require.
• What did the officer actually see? Reports often describe “bloodshot eyes” and “slurred speech.” The body camera audio and video can confirm or contradict it.

The First Two Weeks

1. Bond. A magistrate sets bond and conditions, which may require an ignition interlock device.
2. The license deadline. Request an ALR hearing within 15 days of the arrest notice, or your license is suspended automatically on the 40th day: 90 days for a failed test, 180 for a refusal, on a first arrest.
3. Preserve the evidence. Video from the stop and booking can be overwritten; request it early.

Penalties

A first DWI is a Class B misdemeanor with 72 hours to 180 days in jail and a fine up to $2,000; at 0.15 or more it becomes a Class A misdemeanor. A conviction adds a state traffic fine of $3,000 or more. Deferred adjudication is available for many first offenses, except at 0.15 or above or for commercial license holders.

A Former Officer and Prosecutor on Your Side

Al Rowland is a former police officer certified to administer Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and a former prosecutor in Colorado. He measures a Princeton arrest against how the stop and tests are supposed to be done, and against what a prosecutor will need to prove.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my case heard in Princeton?

No. Princeton Municipal Court handles traffic tickets, but DWI is a county criminal case heard in McKinney.

I was stopped in a construction zone. Does that matter?

It can. Temporary markings, lane shifts, and poor lighting can explain driving and test performance that an officer reads as impairment.

Can I keep driving to work?

If a suspension takes effect, you may qualify for an occupational driver’s license, often with an ignition interlock.

Call Before the 15 Days Run Out

Call (469) 895-6555 or request a free, confidential DWI case review. Law Office of Al Rowland, PLLC, 6160 Warren Pkwy, Suite 100, Frisco, TX 75034. See also: Collin County DWI defense.

This page provides general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts.