Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is considered a serious crime and can result in harsh penalties in Cabot, Arkansas. This is especially true if you’re facing a felony DWI. It’s important to understand your rights so you can mitigate penalties and work toward the lightest sentence possible. Working with a Cabot felony DWI lawyer can facilitate this process.
If you’ve been charged with a felony DWI in Cabot, let one of our Cabot felony DWI lawyers at Lemley Law Partners guide you through your legal options.
Driving while intoxicated is also commonly known as driving under the influence (DUI) across the country. This refers to the act of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which can also involve related charges such as drug crimes or marijuana possession. A person is considered intoxicated if their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is:
DWI is a serious enough offense on its own, but penalties can become even more severe if you are charged with a DWI as a felony; that’s why having a strong DWI defense is essential.
A DWI in Arkansas can become a felony if the offender:
If you’re pulled over for suspected DWI, you should comply with law enforcement without providing them with unnecessary information that could further implicate you. Arkansas recognizes implied consent, which means you can face immediate consequences if you refuse to take a chemical test during a DWI arrest.
That said, there are alternative actions you can take to better protect yourself during this process. For example, you can ask to take a blood test once you’ve been booked instead of doing the breath test during the sobriety check.
A Cabot felony DWI lawyer can help identify these opportunities, investigate your case, negotiate on your behalf, and represent you in court to help you secure the lightest sentence possible.
There were 6,339 DWI arrests in Arkansas in 2024. This is up from the year prior, when there were 5,732 arrests for driving while intoxicated. The Cabot Police Department alone accounted for 160 DWI arrests in 2024.
During fiscal year 2023, the Arkansas State Police Highway Safety Office (AHSO) handled about 120 projects supporting efforts to improve traffic safety.
These subgrant agreements focused on efforts to:
The AHSO specifically implemented Selective Traffic Enforcement Projects (STEPs) focused on enforcing impaired driving laws. In fiscal year 2023, the organization reported 830 DWI citations.
This report follows an odd trend emerging since 2019, where DWI cases seem to spike one year and then dip the next, only to spike again the following year. For example, this is what DWI citations reported to the AHSO looked like over those five years:
If you’re facing DWI charges in Arkansas, it’s important to get in touch with a local attorney you can trust. Our team of Cabot felony DWI lawyers at Lemley Law Partners is ready to help.
A: While challenging, you may be able to have a felony DWI in Cabot dismissed with the right defense strategy. Common defenses that your Cabot felony DWI lawyer may discuss involve proving that your rights were somehow violated during your arrest or booking, or that some part of their evidence is inaccurate and inadmissible.
As a defendant, you are considered innocent until proven guilty. If you can discredit the prosecution, you may be able to make a strong enough case to maintain your innocence.
A: In Arkansas, it takes four DWI charges within a five-year period to be charged with a felony. It’s important to note that your second and third DWIs in this time period also come with increasingly severe penalties and fines. You may also face felony charges for driving while intoxicated if you cause a fatal accident or if there are other aggravating factors, even if it’s your first offense.
A: It is possible to get jail time for a first-time felony DWI in Cabot, Arkansas. Felony DWI charges can lead to time in prison, with exact sentences depending on the severity of your crime. That said, it is possible to seek probation or public service in lieu of time in prison. A Cabot felony DWI lawyer from our firm can help you explore your options so you can make the right choice.
A: Arkansas is an implied consent state, which means residents who receive their driver’s licenses in the state automatically consent to chemical testing if law enforcement suspects they are under the influence. Chemical testing includes blood tests, breathalyzers, and urine tests. Refusing any of these tests can lead to automatic license suspension and additional penalties for the DWI, too.
Facing a felony DWI in Arkansas can feel like a hopeless and overwhelming situation, but it doesn’t have to be the end of the road. With our experienced legal team at Lemley Law Partners on your side, you can build a strong defense and protect your rights throughout the process. Reach out to our office to schedule an appointment and talk to a Cabot felony DWI lawyer about your case today.