Bastrop County DWI Defense Attorney
Arrested for DWI in Bastrop County? You have 15 days to request the ALR hearing that protects your driver’s license — and the sooner a defense attorney is involved, the more options you have. Stephen T Bowling, DWI & Criminal Defense Attorneys defends DWI cases across Bastrop County with published flat fees, included trial representation, and a team of former law enforcement officers who know exactly how these arrests are built.
Last updated: July 3, 2026
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DWI enforcement in Bastrop County
Highway 71 between Austin and Bastrop, SH-21, and SH-95 are the main enforcement corridors, worked by Bastrop PD, the county sheriff, and DPS troopers. Many Bastrop County DWI arrests involve Austin-area residents heading home from the airport corridor or the lake — and a smaller docket means prosecutors know the local defense bar well.
Where your case will be heard
DWI cases are heard at the historic Bastrop County Courthouse on Pecan Street, with misdemeanors in the county court at law and felonies in the district court. After arrest, booking is at the Bastrop County Jail.
We defend Bastrop County DWI cases from our Austin office, thirty minutes up Highway 71.
The 15-day license deadline
A DWI arrest starts two cases: the criminal charge and a civil license suspension. You have 15 days from the date of arrest to request an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing. Miss it and your license is automatically suspended. We request the hearing, cross-examine the arresting officer under oath, and use that sworn testimony to build your criminal defense — the ALR is included in every DWI representation, never billed separately. Texas DWI offenses are defined in Penal Code Chapter 49, and the ALR process is administered by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Transparent flat-fee pricing
You will know the full cost of your defense before you hire us — no hourly billing, no surprise invoices, and no separate trial fee.
| Charge | Flat fee | 10-month financing |
|---|---|---|
| First DWI | $5,000 | $500 / month |
| Second DWI | $7,000 | $700 / month |
| Felony DWI | $10,000 | $1,000 / month |
| ALR hearing | Included | Included |
| Trial fee | Included | Included |
We offer 10 monthly payments with the first payment due at hiring. Listed fees are for payment in full or auto-payment financing; the client is responsible for keeping the credit card on file updated. Your exact flat fee is confirmed at your free consultation. Enhanced charges scale proportionally. See our complete published fee schedule. Prices are subject to change at any time; the fee quoted in your signed representation agreement is the fee that controls.
Why former police officers make different defense lawyers
Our team served in law enforcement before defending the accused. We wrote the same reports, made the same stops, and testified in the same courts. That means we read a Bastrop County DWI file the way the officer wrote it — and we recognize when the stop, the field sobriety tests, or the blood draw don’t hold up. Prosecutors know which defense lawyers try cases. We prepare every case for trial from day one.
More Bastrop County DWI resources: the Bastrop County page on CallDWI.
Common questions from Bastrop County clients
How much does a DWI lawyer cost in Bastrop County?
Our flat fees are published: $5,000 for a first DWI, $7,000 for a second, and $10,000 for a felony DWI — with the ALR hearing and trial fee included and 10-month interest-free financing available. Prices are subject to change at any time; the fee quoted in your signed representation agreement is the fee that controls.
What happens after a DWI arrest in Bastrop County?
You will be booked at the Bastrop County Jail and given a court date. You have only 15 days from the arrest to request an ALR hearing to protect your driver’s license. DWI cases are heard at the historic Bastrop County Courthouse on Pecan Street, with misdemeanors in the county court at law and felonies in the district court.
Can a DWI be dismissed in Bastrop County?
Yes. DWI cases in Bastrop County are dismissed or reduced for many reasons: an unlawful stop, unreliable field sobriety testing, breath or blood testing problems, or missing elements of proof. As former law enforcement officers, we know where arrests go wrong — and we prepare every case for trial.
Do I have to appear in court myself?
For many misdemeanor settings in Bastrop County, your attorney can appear for you or minimize the appearances you must attend. We handle the process so your life keeps moving.
