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Legal Insights

Whether you’re looking for more information on charges you’re currently facing or looking for ways to educate yourself on Texas law, the Guzman Law Firm blog is full of valuable insights for any Texan. Filter through a multitude of topics for advice, informaton, and more in our blog.
Marijuana joints on a table.

What Are the Penalties for Repeat Offenders for Marijuana in Texas?

Although the substance is legal in many states around the country, Texas maintains some of the strictest laws regarding marijuana, and penalties can be especially severe for repeat offenders. If...
A clenched fist

What Is the Difference between Assault and Aggravated Assault?

In Texas, while assault and aggravated assault are both serious criminal offenses, they carry distinct charges and therefore different legal implications. While both crimes involve causing harm or threatening harm...
Car smuggling humans getting pulled over by the police

Smuggler vs. Trafficker: What’s the Difference?

One of the largest difference makers that will greatly affect your federal charges for border-related offenses is whether you’re accused of smuggling or trafficking. While smuggling and trafficking are terms...
Judge sitting at the desk with a handful of drug money from a case

How to Fight Asset Forfeiture in Drug Trafficking Charges in Texas

If you’ve had your assets seized due to drug trafficking charges in Texas, you’re likely feeling frustrated, angry, and overwhelmed. This loss on top of criminal charges creates an enormous...
Border patrol looking for an undocumented immigrant in Texas

Consequences of Transporting Undocumented Immigrants in Texas

If you or a loved one are facing charges for transporting undocumented immigrants, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed when confronted with potential legal consequences. Confronting the extreme penalties for alien...
Marijuana gummy bear edible next to cannabis buds

Are Edibles Legal in Texas?

The legal landscape for cannabis products in Texas is confusing, with evolving but strict laws and a cavalcade of technically legal substances rocketing to popularity in quick succession. It’s no...
A pair of hands emerging from inside of a freight trailer

Legal Defenses against Human Smuggling Charges in Texas

Facing human smuggling charges in Texas is a serious and potentially life-altering situation. These charges carry significant legal penalties and can negatively affect your freedom and reputation. If you or...
A person exchanging money for drugs

Steps to Take if Accused of Conspiracy Charges for Drugs

Being accused of conspiracy charges for drugs is a serious matter that can lead to severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences and hefty fines. Beyond the severity of drug conspiracy...
a set of car keys next to an alcoholic beverage

What Is Intoxication Manslaughter in Texas?

What is intoxication manslaughter in Texas? Simply put, it is a serious charge that occurs when an individual causes the death of another person due to intoxication from drugs or...
Judge’s gavel and a marijuana leaf on a table

What to Do if Arrested for Marijuana Possession in a National Park

Getting arrested for marijuana possession in a national park can be overwhelming and confusing, especially when different rules apply depending on where you are. While marijuana laws in Texas have...
a personal firearm being stolen from a safe

What Are the Penalties for Theft of a Firearm in Texas?

Theft of a firearm is a serious crime in Texas, carrying significant legal penalties including up to two years in jail and $10,000 in fines. Not to mention the social...
a big rig truck on the highway

What Felonies Disqualify You from Getting a CDL?

A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is essential for anyone looking to pursue a career in professional driving in Texas, where the thousands of miles of integral highway support plenty of...
A patrol car pulling over another vehicle

What Is Illegal Search and Seizure in a Vehicle?

Illegal search and seizure in a vehicle is a serious issue by which law enforcement can infringe upon your constitutional rights. It occurs when law enforcement officers conduct a search...
A judge passing sentence while a defendant and his lawyer look on

The Chances of Winning an ALR Hearing in Texas

For commercial drivers, retaining their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) after a DWI arrest is critical, not just for your career but for your livelihood. Given the high stakes, navigating the...
An array of illicit drugs on a table

Do CDL Drivers Get Drug Tested?

Commercial drivers are the backbone of the U.S. economy. Truck drivers work long, tough hours keeping the supply chain moving and helping ensure that goods and products reach their destinations...
Man in an orange prison uniform being led from a courtroom

What Are Some Human Smuggling Examples?

Human smuggling charges are terrifying for their steep potential punishments, but also for their extreme complexity. Human smuggling crimes often exist at the intersection of both federal and Texas law...
Back view of truck driver getting into his truck

What Disqualifies You From Getting a CDL in Texas?

Obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in Texas is essential for those seeking to pursue a career in commercial driving. However, to get a CDL in Texas, you must meet...
Woman being arrested for possession of a controlled substance

When Should You Get a Lawyer for Felony Drug Charges?

When facing felony drug charges, it is essential to know when and why you should seek legal assistance in these situations. These charges are serious and can have significant legal...
A judge holding legal documents and a gavel

What is an ALR Hearing in Texas: a Guide for CDL Holders

When facing a DWI charge in Texas, one of the crucial steps in the legal process is the Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing. Following an arrest for a DWI, an...
Trucker opening the door of his semi-truck

Can You Get a CDL with a Felony in Texas?

Navigating life after a felony conviction can be incredibly challenging, especially when it comes to securing and maintaining a stable career. If you’re thinking about getting a Commercial Driver’s License...
Burglar intruder inside a house with a flashlight

The Difference Between Burglary vs. Robbery in Texas

In Texas, the primary difference between burglary vs. robbery lies in the target of the crime and the presence of victims.  This article will dive deeper into the legal definitions...
Two men trading money with a smuggled woman in the background

What Is Human Smuggling in Texas?

Human smuggling, particularly in areas like Texas, has become a significant legal and humanitarian issue. When discussing “what is human smuggling,” it’s vital to differentiate it from human trafficking, another...
CDL driver with his hands on the wheel of a semi-truck

Truck Drivers Smuggling Drugs in Texas: What You Need to Know

Truck drivers are no strangers to the long Texas highways, on which the trucking industry serves as a major artery of commerce, vital for transporting goods across the nation. It...
White semi truck driving on foggy highway.

How To Get a CDL Back After Suspension in Texas

Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) are essential to the livelihoods of countless Americans who drive commercial vehicles for a living. Those drivers who are entrusted to keep our economy running smoothly...
Drugs smuggled inside a spare tire being discovered by police.

How To Get a Drug Trafficking Charge Dismissed

Drug trafficking charges are incredibly serious offenses that can carry life-altering consequences for the convicted. If you or a loved one are facing drug trafficking charges in Texas, you’re likely...
Vials of powdered drugs atop a table covered with $100 bills.

What Are the Elements of Conspiracy To Distribute Charges?

Federal drug conspiracy charges are as serious as they sound, sometimes carrying millions of dollars in penalties and landing the convicted in prison for life, but what are the elements...
Two border patrol agents look out onto the highway for passing trucks.

What Truck Drivers Need To Know About Illegal Search and Seizure

Truck drivers know all about having to submit to inspection of their freight, whether it’s at a weigh station, border patrol checkpoint, or in some cases, even being pulled over...
Truck driver standing in front of his truck looking at the camera with crossed arms.

How Do I Get an Alien Smuggling Waiver?

For both Americans and immigrants alike, alien smuggling charges can cause long-lasting damage in the form of steep fines, jail time, and revocation of your rights. You may have heard...
Overhead view of tens of multicolored trucks waiting for a border control checkpoint.

What To Expect When Facing Human Smuggling Charges as a Truck Driver

Human smuggling charges are serious offenses that can mean spending decades in state and federal prisons if convicted. Texas is tough on truckers accused of human smuggling and has become...
Older truck driver drinks beer behind the wheel of his box truck.

What Happens if You Get a DWI With a CDL License in Texas?

As if having a DWI conviction on your record is not enough, DWI penalties for Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) holders can be even more steep in the Lone Star State...
Person trapped in an illegally smuggled container

What is the Difference Between Smuggling and Trafficking?

Do you know the difference between smuggling and trafficking laws in Texas? The distinction between the two is critical due to the massive difference in punishment and intent between these...
Marijuana joints on a table.

Is Marijuana Possession a Federal Crime?

It’s understandable to feel confused and overwhelmed by the complexity surrounding the legality of marijuana possession in the United States. The combination of the state laws that have seen marijuana...
Border patrol car driving along the Mexican border

Texas Laws on Harboring Illegal Immigrants

In the Lone Star State, the issue of illegal immigration is a hot-button topic fraught with complexities and challenges. It’s an issue that elicits strong emotions, stirring deep empathy for...
Man holding out a recreational marijuana joint

How Much Weed is a Felony in Texas?

Because weed is still federally illegal, and the criminalization of personal-use marijuana is a state-level decision, the laws and penalties surrounding possession can vary greatly from state to state. This...
Businessman counting 100 dollar bills

What to Know About Facing Embezzlement Charges in Texas

If you or a loved one are facing embezzlement charges in Texas you should prepare yourself for the severe legal consequences that often follow. Considered a white-collar crime, embezzlement involves...
Border police officer looking out over a field

Punishment for Aiding and Abetting an Illegal Alien in Texas

In the complex world of immigration law, many don’t understand the consequences of aiding and abetting an illegal alien in Texas. The Lone Star State is a state known for...
Man standing in the street with a baseball bat

The Difference Between Assault vs. Battery

Outside of the realm of criminal law, the terms “assault” and “battery” are often used interchangeably, leading to a common misunderstanding that they denote the same act. In most states...
Student couple walking at school with their backpacks on, the man with his arm around the girl.

What Is the Age of Consent in Texas?

The age of consent is a critical legal concept that establishes the minimum age at which an individual can legally engage in sexual activities with another person. Every state in...
Out of focus man in a white t-shirt points a pistol toward the camera.

The Self-Defense Laws in Texas

Everyone in the great state of Texas has a right to defend themselves, their loved ones, and their property. But where is the line drawn between protecting oneself and committing...
Silhouette of two people crossing through a barbed fence.

What is the Punishment for Crossing the Border Illegally?

We’ve done a bit of writing about the penalties associated with human smuggling charges in Texas (or the punishment for bringing people across the border illegally), but what is the...
'Welcome to Texas' sign at the border.

What Is the Punishment for Bringing People Across the Border?

What is the punishment for bringing people across the border? Unfortunately human smuggling, also known as alien smuggling under federal law, is a big problem here in Texas. And while...
Man is crestfallen as officer presents him a breathalyzer test.

Is Drunk Driving a Felony in Texas?

We all know that Texas courts are tough on those accused of DWI, but is drunk driving a felony in Texas? Penalties for DWI will vary drastically based on the...
US Border Patrol booth at night

What is the Punishment for Harboring Illegal Immigrants?

What is the punishment for harboring illegal immigrants? Harboring illegal immigrants is one of many federal alien smuggling crimes, for which good people can find themselves in serious trouble —...
Young woman holding up her license in her car

How Do You Get Your License Back After a DWI in Texas?

If you’ve recently gotten a DWI in the Lone Star State, you’re likely wondering how to get your license back after a DWI in Texas. Life doesn’t go on hold...
Statute of Limitations on Theft in Texas

Statute of Limitations on Theft in Texas

According to the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, the statute of limitations on theft in Texas is generally five years after the alleged date of the crime. This means that...
Man in handcuffs, how to beat a simple assault charge in Texas

How to Beat a Simple Assault Charge in Texas

If you or a loved one has been charged with assault, you are likely wondering how to beat a simple assault charge in Texas. The first thing to do after...
What You Need to Know if You’re Facing First-Time Drug Possession Charges in Texas

What You Need to Know if You’re Facing First-Time Drug Possession Charges in Texas

If you or a loved one are facing first-time drug possession charges in Texas you’re likely wondering how severe drug possession penalties in Texas really are, and what options you...
How to Choose a DWI Defense Lawyer

How to Choose a DWI Defense Lawyer

If you have been charged with a DWI and are looking for a DWI defense lawyer you may be wondering how to choose the right attorney. Not only is choosing...
What To Do If You’re Arrested for DWI in Texas

What To Do If You’re Arrested for DWI in Texas

If you have been arrested for DWI (driving while intoxicated) in Texas, you are likely feeling scared and anxious. Your mind is probably racing with questions and picturing the worst-case...
First DWI in Texas: What to Expect

First DWI in Texas: What to Expect

Facing a first DWI in Texas can be nerve-wracking and stressful. What probably started out as an innocent night on the town with a few drinks quickly ended with your...
2nd DWI In Texas: Penalties And The Possibilities Of Jail Time

2nd DWI in Texas: Penalties and The Possibilities of Jail Time

If you’re facing charges for a 2nd DWI in Texas, it’s important to understand that the consequences will be different than they were on your first DWI. Though Texas law...
https://www.guzman.law/is-a-dwi-a-felony-in-texas/

Is a DWI a Felony in Texas?

Is a DWI a Felony in Texas? Texas courts are tough on DWI no matter how they are charged, but first-time offenders are much more likely to get a forgiving...

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