BUI Defense Attorney in Brazoria County

Former Brazoria County Prosecutor. Technical DWI Credentials. Fighting BUI Charges Since 1997.

A BUI arrest on the Brazos River, the Intracoastal Waterway, or any of Brazoria County’s coastal bays moves quickly through the legal system. The criminal charge carries the same penalties as a DWI, the Administrative License Revocation clock starts immediately, and the window to protect your driving privileges closes in 15 days. At Law Office of Steve O. Gonzalez, we defend clients facing BUI and boating while intoxicated charges throughout Brazoria County and the surrounding region.

Steve Gonzalez has practiced in Brazoria County courts since being admitted to the Texas State Bar in 1997, first as a Brazoria County Assistant District Attorney and then as a defense attorney. That prosecutorial background means we know how the state builds these cases. Our firm has guided more than 5,000 clients through the Texas legal system, serving Brazoria, Galveston, Harris, and Fort Bend Counties.

Don’t wait to act. Call Law Office of Steve O. Gonzalez at (832) 900-9867 to discuss your BUI charge with attorneys who know Brazoria County and know this area of law.

Why Technical DWI Credentials Matter in a BUI Case

BUI arrests rely on the same evidence as DWI cases: breath and blood testing, field sobriety evaluations, and officer observations. Challenging that evidence effectively requires training that goes beyond general criminal defense. Steve Gonzalez holds credentials in the specific tools and methods used in these arrests.

Field Sobriety Test Certification
Steve Gonzalez is certified in Administration and Scoring of the NHTSA-approved Standardized Field Sobriety Tests Battery (certified July 17, 2004). Law enforcement applies the same evaluation framework in BUI investigations, and knowing the exact administration standards reveals deviations that can undermine test results.

Breath Test Instrument Knowledge
Steve holds both operator and maintenance certifications for the CMI Intoxilyzer 5000 Series, the breath-test instrument used in Texas DWI and BUI cases. That technical knowledge lets us identify machine-side errors that generalist attorneys may overlook.

Forensic Blood and Lab Analysis Training
Steve completed a 28-hour Forensic Blood and Urine Testing seminar in May 2009 and a 40-hour Forensic Chromatography course in July 2012. When a BUI arrest results in a blood draw, we can evaluate the lab’s procedures and challenge the analysis if the science doesn’t hold up.

Steve Gonzalez is a member of the National College of DUI Defense and the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, where he presented at the 10th Annual Top Gun DWI Seminar in August 2012. Our firm also serves Spanish-speaking clients.

Boating While Intoxicated Under Texas Law

Texas Penal Code Section 49.06 makes it a crime to operate a watercraft while intoxicated on public water. Intoxication means either a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher, or the loss of normal use of mental or physical faculties due to alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both. The statute covers vessels, water skis, aquaplanes, and similar devices, but not anything propelled solely by water current.

One detail many boaters don’t know: it’s entirely legal in Texas to have open containers of alcohol on a boat and to drink while aboard. The offense only occurs when the operator is intoxicated. That distinction doesn’t stop law enforcement from investigating, though. Passengers drinking, open containers in plain view, and the operator accepting a cold drink can all become part of an officer’s probable cause narrative.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Code Section 31.124 authorizes officers to board any vessel for a safety inspection without reasonable suspicion, so a routine check for life jackets and fire extinguishers can immediately become a BUI investigation. Prior convictions also cross over: a DWI conviction counts as a prior offense when enhancing a BWI charge, and a BWI conviction counts when enhancing a DWI.

BUI Penalties in Texas

The consequences escalate sharply with each prior offense and with any resulting injury:

• First offense: Class B misdemeanor, fine up to $2,000, 72 hours to 180 days in jail, driver’s license suspension of 6 months to 1 year
• Second offense (prior DWI counts): Class A misdemeanor, fine up to $4,000, 30 days to 1 year in jail
• Third offense: Third-degree felony, fine up to $10,000, 2 to 10 years in prison
• Intoxication assault (serious bodily injury): Third-degree felony
• Intoxication manslaughter (death): Second-degree felony, up to 20 years in prison

Penalties are further enhanced when a victim suffers a traumatic brain injury resulting in a persistent vegetative state, or when the victim was a peace officer, firefighter, or emergency medical personnel acting in the line of duty. Beyond the criminal sentence, a conviction creates a permanent record that can affect employment, professional licenses, housing, and educational opportunities.

Talk to a Brazoria County BUI Defense Attorney Today

The 15-day ALR deadline means your driving privileges are already on the clock. Acting quickly gives us the opportunity to request a hearing and contest the suspension while your criminal case is pending. The sooner we can review the stop, the boarding, and the evidence collected, the more options we may have.

Law Office of Steve O. Gonzalez defends BUI and boating while intoxicated charges throughout Brazoria County, including communities like Lake Jackson and Pearland. Our combined 32-plus years of experience and Steve’s background as a former Brazoria County prosecutor give us a perspective on these cases.

Call us at (832) 900-9867 to schedule a consultation. We’re ready to review your case and can explain your options.