| ext">The state of Texas has enacted a variety of | | | | depending on the specific situation. |
| different regulations that are each designed to help | | | | Even though the act of DWI with a child present is |
| stem the increasing number of DWI accidents, injuries, | | | | considered to be an extremely serious offense, it is |
| and fatalities occurring within the state by making it | | | | not the most serious alcohol-related offense for which |
| less appealing for underage individuals to purchase | | | | an individual can be charged. If an individual is involved |
| alcohol, less appealing for people over the age of 21 to | | | | in an automobile accident in which someone was |
| sell alcohol to underage individuals, and less appealing | | | | seriously injured and it is determined that the individual |
| for individuals to drive while intoxicated. Many of these | | | | was driving while intoxicated, the individual will be |
| regulations establish strong penalties for alcohol-related | | | | arrested for DWI and for intoxication assault. |
| offenses in order to make DWI less appealing. | | | | Intoxication assault is a 3rd degree felony that carries |
| However, some of the strongest penalties are used in | | | | a minimum jail time of two years up to a possible |
| situations in which a child is in the car of a driver that is | | | | maximum of 10 years in jail and a possible fine of up to |
| driving while intoxicated and situations in which an | | | | $10,000 if the individual is convicted. It is important to |
| individual is harmed or killed by a driver that is driving | | | | note that the individual may also receive all of the other |
| while intoxicated. | | | | penalties associated with a standard DWI arrest, |
| DWI is always considered to be a serious offense, but | | | | including license revocation, if he or she is arrested and |
| driving with a child in the car while intoxicated is | | | | or convicted for intoxication assault. If an individual is |
| considered to be a much more serious offense. If an | | | | involved in an automobile accident in which someone |
| individual is pulled over and arrested for DWI and there | | | | was killed and it is determined that the individual was |
| was a child under the age of 15 present in the car, the | | | | driving while intoxicated, the individual will be arrested |
| driver will be arrested for felony DWI. An individual | | | | for DWI and intoxication manslaughter or possibly |
| convicted of felony DWI will receive a minimum of 180 | | | | manslaughter with the use of a deadly weapon. |
| days in jail to a maximum of two years in jail and may | | | | Intoxication manslaughter is a 2nd degree felony that |
| be faced with up to a $10,000 fine. It is also important | | | | carries a minimum jail time of two years up to a |
| to note that the individual may be charged with other | | | | possible maximum of 20 years in prison and, in most |
| crimes related to the safety and well-being of the child | | | | situations, a $10,000 fine. |