Travis County DWI Defense Attorney
Arrested for DWI in Travis 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 Travis 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 Travis County
Sixth Street, Rainey Street, I-35, MoPac, and the 183 corridor produce a steady stream of DWI stops by Austin PD, the Travis County Sheriff, and DPS troopers. Travis County also runs frequent no-refusal weekends, where officers obtain rapid blood-draw warrants for refusals.
Where your case will be heard
Misdemeanor DWI cases are heard in the Travis County Courts at Law and felonies in the district courts at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center in downtown Austin. After arrest, booking is at the Travis County Jail in downtown Austin, with longer holds at the Del Valle correctional complex.
Our office is in Austin, minutes from the courthouse. We also offer jail release service in Travis County — $500 for most misdemeanors and $1,500+ for felonies.
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 Travis 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 Travis County DWI resources: Texas Defense Team’s Travis County criminal defense guide and the Travis County page on CallDWI.
Common questions from Travis County clients
How much does a DWI lawyer cost in Travis 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 Travis County?
You will be booked at the Travis County Jail in downtown Austin, with longer holds at the Del Valle correctional complex and given a court date. You have only 15 days from the arrest to request an ALR hearing to protect your driver’s license. Misdemeanor DWI cases are heard in the Travis County Courts at Law and felonies in the district courts at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center in downtown Austin.
Can a DWI be dismissed in Travis County?
Yes. DWI cases in Travis 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 Travis County, your attorney can appear for you or minimize the appearances you must attend. We handle the process so your life keeps moving.
