Park Cities DWI and Criminal Defense Lawyers

Park Cities is the collective name for the Town of Highland Park and City of University Park. They are two independent municipalities entirely surrounded by the City of Dallas in Dallas County, home to some of North Texas’ most prominent professional and business communities. The Park Cities Police Department and Texas DPS conduct active enforcement along Preston Road, Mockingbird Lane, University Boulevard, and Armstrong Parkway. Every criminal and DWI case arising from Park Cities is prosecuted by the Dallas County District Attorney’s office and heard at the Frank Crowley Courts Building.

Deandra Grant Law’s Dallas office at 3300 Oak Lawn, Ste 700 which is minutes from the Frank Crowley Courts Building where Park Cities cases are heard.

Managing Partner Deandra Grant holds a Master’s Degree in Pharmaceutical Science, a Graduate Certificate in Forensic Toxicology, and the ACS-CHAL Forensic Lawyer-Scientist designation. Partner Douglas Huff holds the same ACS-CHAL designation and has completed advanced digital forensics training. For federal matters in the Northern District of Texas, Of Counsel James Lee Bright brings more than 25 years of federal trial experience.

Why the Science Behind Your Case Matters

Most defense attorneys challenge DWI and criminal evidence through legal argument. Deandra Grant Law challenges it through the science.

• Blood testing: Texas DPS Crime Lab in Garland for Highland Park DPS and University Park PD arrests. GC-FID methodology, in vitro fermentation, sodium fluoride adequacy, chain of custody, analyst qualifications 
• Drug cases: DPS Austin, Armstrong Forensic Laboratory, or NMS for drug analysis. Presence is not impairment. 
• Breath testing: Intoxilyzer 9000. Partition ratio variability (1,100:1 to 3,400:1), 15-minute observation period compliance, calibration records, mouth alcohol, GERD/diabetes effects.
• Field sobriety tests: Deandra Grant is a trained SFST instructor who administers and grades the ACS-CHAL Forensic Lawyer-Scientist and DUIDLA Board Certification exams. SFST cross-examination goes to the protocol, not just the result.
• Digital evidence: Cell phone data, social media, CDR records, surveillance footage 
• Retrograde extrapolation: Rising BAC defense, Widmark formula, individual elimination rate variability 

Dallas County Courts and Enforcement

Courthouse: Frank Crowley Courts Building, 133 N. Riverfront Blvd., Dallas, TX 75207.

District Attorney: Despite their independent municipal status, all Park Cities cases are prosecuted by the Dallas County DA’s office. Residents who hold professional licenses, security clearances, medical licenses, or prominent business and legal careers face collateral consequences of a criminal charge that extend well beyond the courtroom.

Federal cases: Dallas County is in the Northern District of Texas. Attorney James Lee Bright handles federal defense in the Northern District.

Enforcement in Park Cities

• Highland Park Department of Public Safety (HPDPS) — serves both Highland Park and University Park
• Dallas County Sheriff’s Office

DWI Penalties in Texas

• First offense (Class B): Up to 180 days jail, fine up to $2,000, license suspension up to 1 year. Deferred adjudication may be available in some first-time cases — eligibility is fact-specific.
• BAC 0.15+ (Class A): Up to 1 year jail, fine up to $4,000, mandatory ignition interlock. Permanent conviction.
• Second offense (Class A): 72-hour minimum jail as COP, up to 1 year, fine up to $4,000, mandatory interlock.
• Third offense (felony): 2–10 years prison, fine up to $10,000, 10-day minimum jail as COP.
• DWI with child passenger: State jail felony, 180 days–2 years, fine up to $10,000.
• Intoxication assault: Third-degree felony, 2–10 years, fine up to $10,000.
• Intoxication manslaughter: Second-degree felony, 2–20 years. Bentley’s Law restitution applies if victim was a parent of minor children.

Criminal Defense in Dallas County

Every criminal defense in Dallas County begins with Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 38.23 which is the exclusionary rule with no good faith exception. An unlawful stop, a defective warrant, a search beyond its scope: any of these suppresses the evidence driving the prosecution’s case.

We handle the full range of criminal charges arising from Park Cities and Dallas County:

• Assault and family violence — including the permanent consequences of the family violence affirmative finding
• Drug possession and delivery — lab analysis challenged at the chemistry level
• Theft, robbery, fraud, and white-collar offenses
• Gun crimes — UCW, felon in possession, federal firearms charges
• Sex offenses — forensic evidence and digital evidence examined independently
• Murder and homicide — through capital murder
• Federal criminal defense — handled by James Lee Bright