It may have been a one-time lapse in judgement, or you may have felt sober enough to drive when you suddenly see police lights flashing in your rear-view mirror. Before you know it, you are performing field sobriety tests and a breath test to determine if you are driving while intoxicated.
In Texas, if your blood alcohol concentration is over 0.08% or if you are determined to be impaired to the point that you are driving while intoxicated, you may be charged with DWI. It is important to understand the consequences of a DWI, as it could impact many facets of your life.
What are the penalties for drunk driving in Texas?
If it is your first DWI, you could be issued a fine of up to $2,000 and you may have to spend three to 180 days in jail. You will also lose your driver’s license for as many as 12 months.
If it is your second DWI, you could be fined as much as $4,000 and you may have to spend one to 12 months in jail. You will also lose your driver’s license for as many as two years. If it is your second DWI within five years, you will also have to install an ignition switch on your automobile that will keep it from starting if there is alcohol in your system.
If it is your third DWI, you could be issued a $10,000 fine and you may have to spend two to 10 years in prison. In addition, you will lose your driver’s license for up to two years. If it is your third DWI within five years, you will also have to install an ignition switch on your automobile that will keep it from starting if there is alcohol in your system.
A DWI can affect your life for years to come
As this shows, a DWI conviction could lead to serious penalties that will affect your life for years to come. If you are fined, it could lead to financial hardship in other areas of your life. A jail or prison sentence could cause you to lose your job and make it harder to find one upon your release. Similarly, being unable to legally drive can make it difficult to get to work, appointments and to run essential errands. However, this post cannot guarantee any specific outcome in your DWI case. For these reasons, those in the Longview area who are facing DWI charges will want to take the steps necessary to better understand their rights and options.
