As in every other state, in Texas drunk driving is illegal. To deter and combat drunk driving, Texas has laws to punish people who drive while under the influence of alcohol. The limit for an individual's blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.08. Anyone whose blood alcohol content is over 0.08 will be arrested for drunk driving. Moreover, people who do not cooperate with police officers who pull them over because of a suspicion of drunk driving face having their driver's license suspended for 180 days.
For people actually convicted of drunk driving, the punishments vary. If someone is convicted of drunk driving for the first time, the punishment is not as severe as it would be if it had been the individual's second, third, or any other subsequent conviction. For a first conviction, the penalties include up $2,000 in fines, 72 hours to 180 days in jail, and a driver's license suspension of 90 days to 1 year. Additionally, there may other preventative punishments, like attending a Victim Impact Panel, on which people who have been negatively been affected by drunk driving talk about its effects in their lives.
Anyone charged with drunk driving for a second time faces ever more severe penalties. The limit for fines is $4,000, while jail time can be anywhere from 180 days to 2 years. Additionally, the individual's driver's license can be suspended for 180 days to 2 years.
For a third offense, the penalties are still more severe, understandably. The fines are up to $10,000. The prison sentence can range from 2 to 10 years, and the convicted driver's driver's license will be suspended for 180 days to 2 years.
The above laws apply to people who are 21 or over, i.e. people legally permitted to consume alcohol. There are specific laws for people who are not permitted to consume alcohol yet who are caught driving and driving, regardless of blood alcohol content. First of all, it is important to keep in mind that anyone under 21 who is drinking and driving will have her license suspended for 60 days. In addition, there are fines of up to $500, and 20 to 40 hours of community service have to be performed. Finally, underage drinkers and drivers have to attend alcohol awareness courses as well.
Furthermore, anyone between the ages of 17 and 21 driving with a BAC of over 0.08 faces other penalties. The fines can be up to $2,000, while jail time is for 72 hours to 180 days. The driver's license suspension is for 90 days to 1 year.
Clearly, anyone who has been charged with a DWI faces serious penalties that can completely alter an individual's life. That is why having an experienced, effective drunk driving attorney for defense can help immensely. If you have been charged with a DWI, contact the Austin DWI attorneys of the law office of Ian Inglis by calling 512-472-1950 or by going to their website.
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