Houston, Texas DWI Lawyers

A DWI (driving while intoxicated) offense is a serious criminal matter under Texas law, so if you have been arrested for a DWI it is crucial to reach out to a Houston DWI attorney so that you can understand what options are available to you.

In Texas, a person is legally intoxicated if his or her blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.08 percent or higher, or the person is under the influence of drugs. Minors will be charged with a DWI (driving while intoxicated) if any alcohol is detected in their system.

Under Texas law, if a person refuses a breath or blood sample for testing, his or her license may be suspended for 180 days. If a person fails a submitted test, his or her license may be suspended for 90 days.

Generally, when you are arrested for drunk driving, you have a limited amount of time to act to save your driver’s license from being suspended. If you do not ask a hearing from the Department of Public Safety within 15 days, your driving privileges will automatically be suspended regardless of whether or not you are actually convicted of a DWI.

The state of Texas imposes strict penalties for individuals who are convicted of a DWI. A first-time offender may spend anywhere from three to 180 days in jail and pay a fine of up to $2,000. A second conviction can result in anywhere from 30 to 365 days in jail and a fine of up to $4,000. A third conviction can result in jail time between two and ten years as well as a fine of up to $10,000. In some cases, the court will also require that you have an ignition interlock device installed in your vehicle.

A DWI conviction can have serious and life-changing consequences for you, even beyond the penalties required by law. It can affect your personal and professional life, and having a criminal record can affect job and housing opportunities as well. A Houston DWI lawyer understands the severity of this crime and should work diligently to avoid conviction or at least minimize the consequences to you.