Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a serious offense, but the consequences can become even more severe if it isn’t your first DWI conviction. A DWI conviction can result in fines, jail time, and more. For a second DWI conviction, you can face $4,000 in fines, up to a year in jail, and loss of your …
How Long Does a DWI Affect Your Car Insurance in Texas?
A driving while intoxicated (DWI) conviction can affect your car insurance in Texas for at least three years, although it may be much longer. Your rates going forward will depend on factors such as your age, gender, any other violations on your driving record, and which insurance company you use. Some insurance companies may even …
How a DWI Can Impact Child Custody in Texas
Custody of your minor son or daughter can be a complicated part of co-parenting or a divorce. Child custody cases can sometimes become contentious, with one or both parents bringing allegations of substance abuse against the other. If your child’s other parent alleges your unfitness due to alcohol consumption, a driving while intoxicated (DWI) conviction …
DWI Probation in Texas: What You Need to Know
Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a serious offense, but one option, particularly after a first DWI offense, is DWI probation. DWI probation is an alternative to serving jail time after a DWI conviction. If you request and a court grants you probation, you must follow the specific guidelines of your probation that the court outlines …
What Happens When You Get 3 DWI in Texas?
Since third-offense DWI is a third-degree felony, the penalties associated with this charge are steep. You are risking driving license suspension, jail time, and a fine. In addition, your right to vote or carry a firearm will also be revoked for a period of time. And you may face other serious repercussions that could impact …
How to Look Up DWI Records In Texas?
DWI records can affect everything from employment to professional licensing. So whether you are checking on your records or following up on a background check for a potential employee, you can search for DWI convictions online through the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Criminal History Name Search. Per the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure …
What Is the Fine for First Offense DWI in Texas?
Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a serious offense in Texas and is handled by the district attorney in the county of arrest. According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), drivers convicted of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol can face up to a $2,000 fine for their first …
Can I Get Probation for a Third DWI in Texas?
If you are convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Texas, you may be able to seek probation instead of time in jail or prison. However, a DWI lawyer is key to a successful defense in the event of a third DWI charge. They can help you build an effective defense and advise on whether …
How to Win a DWI Case in Texas?
Winning a DWI (driving while intoxicated) case in Texas isn’t easy. First, you’ll need to know to protect your rights, such as your right to a jury trial. Next, you’ll need to find evidence to support your case. Finally, you’ll have to dispute the state’s evidence against you. All these steps take knowledge of the …
What Happens on Your First DWI in Texas?
Were you recently arrested for your first DWI (driving while intoxicated) charge in Texas? Now, you’re left wondering what happens on your first DWI offense. What happens next depends on how the state chooses to handle your case. It could: Charge you with a Class A misdemeanor File your case as a Class B misdemeanor …
Is Jail Time Mandatory for 1st DWI in Texas?
If you or a loved one were arrested for a DWI (driving while intoxicated) in Texas, you might be worried about jail time. While jail time isn’t mandatory for a first DWI conviction in Texas, it can be a sentence in this kind of case. However, you could avoid jail time, get your penalties reduced, …
How Long Is Probation for First-Time DWI in Texas?
Suppose you face conviction for a first-time DWI (driving while intoxicated). In that case, you might wonder about the possibility of getting probation (community supervision) and how long probation is for a first-time DWI offense in Texas. Probation may be a real possibility for you, and the duration depends on several factors, but it’s typically …
What to Do if You Get Pulled Over for a DWI During a No Refusal Weekend
If you get pulled over for a DWI during a No Refusal Weekend in Texas, the most important things you can do are remain silent, refuse standardized field sobriety tests, and, if given the option to take a breath test or a blood test, take the breath test. Doing either or both of these is …
How Do I Get My Car Back After a DWI Arrest in Texas?
Needing to get your car back after an arrest for a DWI in Texas can be frustrating. However, you can likely get your car back by asking the authorities which tow yard or impound lot it was taken to and paying towing/impound fees for its release. Below is what you’ll have to do to get …
Can I Plea Bargain My DWI Case in Texas?
If you have a Texas DWI case, you may be wondering what your legal options are. One option is to plea bargain your case and waive a jury trial. This is only a good idea when you can’t win and to do so could reduce your charges significantly so you will receive a lighter sentence. …
How Long Is Probation for First Time DWI in Texas?
Many people arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) choose probation instead of jail or prison as an outcome of their criminal case, and it often varies how long it will last. Probation is formally referred to in Texas Code of Criminal Procedure § 42.12 as community supervision. Probation is preferred by some over a jail …