DWI-DUI Texas

Driving while intoxicated by drugs or alcohol is a criminal offense that can have very serious legal consequences. There are a number of ways an experienced defense lawyer can help reduce the consequences you may be facing if you are accused of drunk driving. The charges may be lessened to a lower class of crime, or they can be dropped. If the police find you sitting at the wheel, with the key in the ignition, you could be arrested even if all you have done is to stop at the side of the road, many drivers are surprised to learn that they can be accused of DWI even after only one or two drinks.

You are legally intoxicated in Texas when your blood alcohol concentration reach 0.08%, You are breaking the law as soon as drugs or alcohol affect your driving. Drunk driving can have serious consequences, far beyond legal and financial ones. Too many lives are lost each year because of someone’s decision to get behind the wheel after drinking or using other drugs.

Texas DWI First Offense Penalty

(Class B misdemeanor) – punishable by a fine not exceeding $ 2,000.00,

Jail time: 72 hours to 180 days,
Driver’s license suspension: 90 days- 1 year,
Annual surcharge of as much as $2,000 to keep your license

you may be required to install an ignition interlock device on your car and attend a DWI intervention or education program.
If you are found with an open container in your car on your first DWI, you may face the following penalties:

Class B Misdemeanor
Maximum Fine: Up to $2,000\
Jail Range: 6 days to 180 days in county jail
License Suspension: 90 to 365 days

Second DWI Offense in Texas

(Class A misdemeanor) – Punishable by a fine not exceeding $ 4,000.00,

One month to a year in jail upon conviction.
Loss of driver license up to two years.

Third DWI in Texas

(Third-degree felony) – Penalizable with a fine not exceeding $ 10,000.00,

2 to 10 years in prison.
Loss of driver’s license for up to two years

DWI with a child under 15 in the vehicle

Drunk driving with a child passenger

You will be charged with child endangerment if you’re driving drunk with children under 15.
You will be additionally fined up to $10,000.
You could be put in jail for up to two years.
You will lose driver’s license for another 180 days.

Intoxication Assault

A person commits an offense if the person, by accident or mistake. while operating an aircraft, watercraft, or amusement ride while intoxicated, or while operating a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated, by reason of that intoxication causes serious bodily injury to another, “serious bodily injury” means injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes serious permanent disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.

(Serious crime of the Felony Third Degree) – Punishable by a fine not exceeding $ 10,000.00

Confinement in the State Penitentiary: 2-10 years

License suspension: 90 days-1 year

Involuntary homicide due to poisoning (DWI causing death in another person):

INTOXICATION MANSLAUGHTER

intoxicated and by reason of that intoxication causes the death of another by accident or mistake.

(Serious crime of the 2nd degree) –These offenses are prosecuted under different code sections than DWI law and expose offenders to much more serious consequences.

Maximum Fine: Up to $10,000
Jail Range: 2 to 10 years to life in Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)
License Suspension: 180 days to 2 years

Commercial vehicle drivers put us all at risk by driving vehicles that are larger and less maneuverable than passenger vehicles. These characteristics can make them capable of causing serious injury if they are involved in accidents. Commercial drivers are often entrusted with the transportation of hazardous materials or even other people. CDL holders who are found to have driven a commercial vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol are prohibited from driving for one year. If the driver transfers dangerous items, he or she may face a three-year suspension.

Texas’s DWI Implied Consent Laws: Refusing Blood or Breath Alcohol Test

Drivers in Texas are subject to the “implied consent” rule. This means that you consented to a chemical test if law enforcement suspects you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The officer gets to decide which type of test you must take blood or breath. If you refuse, you face consequences, but the officer must respect your choice. BAC testing is mandatory if you are in an accident involving serious injury or death or have a prior DWI conviction with a child in the car.

If you’ve been arrested for DWI in Texas or any other state, get help from an experienced attorney. A DWI conviction—especially one involving physical injuries or repeat offenses—carries serious consequences. So your best bet is to find an attorney who knows the law and your local court system.