It is a year-long program for first time offenders that will result in a dismissal of your DWI case and allow you to expunge the arrest immediately after the completion of the program.

The County Attorney will review each applicant on a case by case basis. However, if you are a first time offender with no collision with an occupied vehicle, and your BAC is less than .20, you have a good chance to get in. They do not accept DWI 2nd cases or DWIs with a BAC over .20, They also will not accept people with serious drug/alcohol issues or if the facts of the DWI case are too bad.

You must use an alcohol monitor for a minimum of 6 months (at your expense), complete the recommended counseling classes, and do 25 hours of community service. You can choose either the Ignition Interlock Device (our recommendation) or the Portable Alcohol Monitor. You are not allowed to drink alcohol and must remain drug free for the year. And, obviously, you cannot get arrested for anything else.

You will have to come to court for the onboarding and at the 3-month and 6-month check-ins. If you are making significant progress on your requirements and have had no violations - we can ask the Judge to excuse you from the check-ins.

• Find more information about the Ignition Interlock Device here.
• Find more information about the Portable Alcohol Monitor here.

The PTD Program starts when you sign the contract. However, even before you sign the contract, make sure that you do not have any alcohol violations on the IID - they will hold these against you. In other words, the program begins before it "officially" starts.

It is technically 1 year. However, if you complete all the requirements and have no violations, they will "graduate" you from the program (and dismiss your case) at 6 months.

No. You should plan to have the IID for 7-8 months total. This includes a few weeks before the program starts and a few weeks after it ends (while we are waiting for the Judge to sign the IID removal order). This assumes you have not had any violations, of course.

No.

Both cost about $90/month plus an installation fee and removal fee (approx. $50). Here is a coupon for a 10% off monthly fee.

Also, the Travis County Pre-Trial Services department charges $10/month to monitor your IID while you are in the program. They also charge 3% of the personal bond amount. They typically send a letter with payment instructions.

Yes! The DWI PTD program used to be MUCH more difficult to get into and complete. This is a wonderful opportunity to get a DWI case dismissed (and ultimately expunged). In the 20 years I have been practicing, I have never seen anything like this opportunity.

We always look for the easiest way. So, if we have recommended this path, it is the best path with the least risk.

If you don’t want a dismissal, then there are many other ways we can resolve the case with less requirements. I am happy to discuss all of the options and the consequences of each.

You need to fill out an application. I have attached it below.

You sign a contract with the County Attorney that lists the conditions of the program and install the IID (if you don't have one already). There will be a court date in County Court #3 where you are onboarded into the program. I put a SAMPLE contract at the bottom of this page.

The program itself does not cost anything. But you will need to pay for the alcohol monitor for 7-8 months (approx. $90/month), the CES evaluation ($55), the MADD/VIP class ($25-$60), and any other counseling classes they require (approx. $90-$150).

It is a bargain for a dismissal.

You will be kicked out of the program and must plea to either to "time served" conviction for a DWI or 12 months deferred adjudication on a DWI (with alcohol monitoring for 6 months). This is part of the contract that you sign to get into the program.

No. That is an entirely separate process. Here is an FAQ ABOUT EXPUNCTIONS.

There may be occasional requirements to contact the program managers. You will have to appear in court for the check-ins unless we can get you excused.

Yes, you can travel if you continue to use the device.

Yes.

No problem. Give us a call – (512) 472-1113 – we’re happy to answer any questions. Or you can e-mail us.