| Texas DWI Law | | | | case. It must be proven that you were operating a |
| Driving under the influence and driving while intoxicated | | | | motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. Texas |
| are considered crimes in the state of Texas. This | | | | law defines intoxication in two different ways. One is |
| means that if you operate a motor vehicle in a public | | | | not having the mental or physical capacity you |
| place while intoxicated, you can face penalties that | | | | normally do as a result of consuming alcohol or drugs. |
| include fines, jail time, and other punishments that have | | | | The other is having a blood alcohol concentration level |
| the power to negatively impact your life for a long | | | | of 0.08% or more due to the consumption of an |
| time. If you want to avoid these penalties, it is wise to | | | | intoxicating substance. Even if the substance is legal, |
| contact a Texas DUI attorney immediately after you | | | | such as a prescription drug, it does not excuse you |
| have been arrested for a DUI offense. Having a skilled | | | | from operating a vehicle while intoxicated. |
| Texas DUI lawyer represent you is the best chance | | | | Texas DWI Criminal Penalties |
| you will have for being able to successfully defend | | | | The penalties for a DWI conviction in Texas increase |
| yourself against DUI charges so you can move on | | | | with the number of offenses you've been convicted of |
| with your life and avoid the harsh consequences of | | | | and any special circumstances. For a first offense, the |
| such a conviction. | | | | penalties are a fine of not more than $2,000, not less |
| Texas DWI Laws and Definitions | | | | than 72 hours and not more than 6 months of jail time, |
| When you are arrested for a DWI offense in Texas, | | | | and not less than 24 hours and not more than 100 |
| two cases are triggered against you. One is the | | | | hours of community service. If you had an open |
| criminal case where you will face criminal charges and | | | | alcohol container in your vehicle, the jail time increases |
| steep penalties. In this case, a prosecutor will try to | | | | to 6 days. Unless you have aggravating circumstances |
| show that you are guilty of a DWI offense. If you are | | | | involved in your case, you will most likely receive a |
| convicted, you may be sentenced to jail time, fines, and | | | | sentence of community supervision for a first offense. |
| other penalties. The second case is an administrative | | | | Second and subsequent offenses carry penalties that |
| case where Texas's licensing agency will attempt to | | | | include steeper fines, more jail time, and more |
| suspend your license for refusing to submit to chemical | | | | punishments designed to prevent repeat offenses. The |
| testing or for taking a chemical test and failing. The | | | | court must also require an offender to install an ignition |
| administrative penalties will depend on whether you | | | | interlock device in any vehicle they own for a required |
| have any prior DWI offenses and any factors that | | | | period of time. Enhanced penalties are available if you |
| may make the penalties more severe. When it is time | | | | have an extremely high level of blood alcohol content |
| for you to face your administrative hearing, having a | | | | or if there are other aggravating factors present. |
| Texas DUI lawyer to handle your case can be an | | | | Texas Driver's License Penalties |
| important factor in whether or not you can save your | | | | You will also face administrative driver license penalties |
| driving privileges. A skilled Texas DUI attorney is | | | | if you are arrested for a DWI offense in the state of |
| experienced with both the criminal and administrative | | | | Texas. An ALR suspension will take effect if you are |
| aspects of a DUI case and will be able to come up | | | | arrest for DWI. Many drivers do not realize that their |
| with a strategy that gives you the best chance of | | | | arrest triggers not only a criminal case but an |
| keeping your driver's license. | | | | administrative case when arrested for DWI. This ALR |
| If you have operated a motor vehicle in a public place | | | | suspension takes place when you have refused a |
| in the state of Texas while intoxicated, you will be | | | | chemical test or you have taken a chemical test and |
| arrested for DWI and you will face all of the criminal | | | | failed with a result of more than the legal limit for blood |
| penalties associated with such an offense. This | | | | alcohol concentration. Texas is one of the many |
| offense is classified as a Class B misdemeanor and | | | | states with implied consent laws. The concept of |
| carries criminal penalties based on the number of prior | | | | implied consent means that, just by using any roadway |
| offenses and any special circumstances in your case. | | | | in Texas, you are implying your consent to chemical |
| Because this offense is a crime, the prosecution must | | | | testing if arrested for DUI. If you refuse to submit to |
| prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. To do this, | | | | chemical testing, you will face additional penalties and |
| the prosecutor must prove several elements in your | | | | the loss of your driving privileges. |