| state sets forth comprehensive laws defining the | | | | offender’s license for a period of six months to |
| punishment for DWI. Driving while intoxicated in the | | | | up to two years. A deep lung air device is also |
| state of Texas is a serious crime that will, in most | | | | required for all second DWI offenders. |
| cases, end up costing an individual significantly more | | | | If an individual is arrested for a third DWI offense, this is |
| than it is worth. | | | | considered to be a Third degree Felony and the |
| DWI is rated as a Class B Misdemeanor for a first | | | | offender will likely be subjected to more severe |
| offense in the State of Texas. The first offense may | | | | penalties. A third offense DWI will result in a fine of up |
| result in a fine of up to two thousand dollars and/or a | | | | to ten thousand dollars, and up to ten years in state |
| sentence ranging from seventy-two hours to six | | | | prison. A deep lung air device will be ordered to |
| months in jail. An individual who is arrested for DWI | | | | individuals with three DWI offenses as a condition of |
| may also be sentenced to community service, which | | | | bond and possibly a condition for release from prison. |
| the range of which can span a sentence of | | | | Community service may be ordered for a period of |
| twenty-four to one hundred hours. If an open container | | | | between one hundred sixty hours up to six hundred |
| of alcohol is found inside of the vehicle at the time of | | | | hours. A third arrest for driving while intoxicated in |
| the arrest, the driver is automatically sentenced to a | | | | Texas may also have their license suspended for up |
| minimum of six days in county jail. | | | | to two years. If an individual is arrested for three |
| In addition to the punishments referenced above, some | | | | counts of DWI, this is an indication to the court that the |
| conditions of probation may be ordered to an offender | | | | offender has a serious problem with alcohol |
| as well. The judge may order alcohol treatment | | | | consumption. The judge may order rehabilitative |
| through AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) or another similar | | | | treatment which requires confinement in a state |
| counseling program. Confinement may result in | | | | alcohol rehabilitation facility. |
| extreme circumstances, or restitution may be ordered | | | | If an individual commits assault while intoxicated, during |
| to pay an affected party in the case of a DWI-related | | | | the process of operating a vehicle, they will be |
| accident. The judge may also sentence the offender | | | | arrested for intoxication assault. This is a third degree |
| with enhanced penalties if the individual has any prior | | | | felony which will result in up to ten thousand dollars in |
| offenses for Driving While Intoxicated and may restrict | | | | fines and a jail sentence from two to ten years. The |
| the offender from consuming any alcohol during the | | | | offender may also be sentenced to up to six hundred |
| probation period. | | | | hours of community service. |
| A second DWI offense in the state of Texas is | | | | Intoxication manslaughter takes place when a person |
| classified as a Class A Misdemeanor. This offense | | | | operates a vehicle in a public place and causes death |
| can result in a fine of up to four thousand dollars and | | | | to another person. This is a second degree felony and |
| up to one year in prison. The judge may also choose | | | | will result in fines up to ten thousand dollars and a jail |
| to sentence an offender to between eighty and two | | | | sentence from two to twenty years. The judge may |
| hundred hours of community service. A Second | | | | also order between two hundred forty and eight |
| offense may also result in the suspension of the | | | | hundred hours of community service. |