While you may think of the holiday season as one involving family, friends, and traditional celebrations, there is some evidence to suggest that certain types of crime increase during this time. If your holiday season is disrupted by an arrest and criminal charges, you should immediately seek help from a Collin County, TX criminal defense lawyer.
Driving While Intoxicated
The holiday season often involves parties and other gatherings – which often involve the consumption of alcohol. As people attend their holiday office parties, family get-togethers, or reunions with old friends back in town, there are often more drunk drivers on the road than normal. Law enforcement agencies are aware of this fact and tend to increase patrols around the holidays. This, unfortunately, can lead to many unlawful traffic stops that can then lead to wrongful charges of driving while intoxicated (DWI). DWI charges can affect your finances, freedom, professional life, and more, so you want the strongest possible defense.
Shoplifting
Everyone knows that the retail industry is a mad scene during the holiday season, often beginning with Black Friday and continuing through New Year’s sales. Stores are often packed with customers and extra holiday staff, and confusion can ensue. Many people can be wrongfully accused of shoplifting when they are mistaken for someone else, or a store security officer becomes overzealous. Shoplifting can be a surprisingly serious charge, especially if you are accused of taking higher-value items. Never think that shoplifting is too minor to warrant the help of a defense attorney.
Burglary
The holiday season is often a time for travel, and empty homes are considered a popular target for burglars. The same goes for homes with presents stacked under the tree for days and weeks prior to the holidays. Burglary is a complicated offense, however, and prosecutors often issue more severe charges than are appropriate for a situation. Let an experienced criminal defense lawyer review your charges and possible defenses available in your case.
Domestic Violence
The holidays can be a stressful time, both emotionally and financially. Many partners or spouses can experience tension as they try to juggle everything, and incidents of domestic violence tend to increase during the holidays. While Texas has resources for alleged domestic violence victims over the holidays, it is important to protect the rights of the accused, as well, as they should always be considered innocent until proven guilty. A protective order and a domestic violence charge, much less a conviction, can impact your life in many costly ways, so you want to aggressively defend against your charges.
Speak with a Collin County, TX Criminal Defense Attorney
If you have been accused of a crime this holiday season, you should speak to a criminal defense lawyer as soon as you can. Attorney J. Michael Price II understands the potentially devastating consequences of a criminal conviction and will do everything he can to bring your case to the most favorable resolution possible. Contact us or call our office to schedule a free case evaluation with a criminal defense lawyer in Collin County.