Houston DWI Resource Center
Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a crime that is taken very seriously in the state of Texas. If you or someone you know has been arrested for driving while intoxicated, you likely have many more questions than answers. You may not be familiar with the legal process and the penalties that you risk facing if you are convicted.
The Houston DWI lawyers of Johnson, Johnson & Baer, P.C. understand that facing a DWI charge can be disorienting. Below we offer a list of resources you may want to visit so that you can be better informed about the details of a Texas DWI. It is our hope that this information will answer some of your questions and help you better understand the charges that you face.
DWI and the Texas Penal Code
Under Texas law, a DWI conviction carries serious penalties. A guilty verdict may result in jail time, hefty fines, probation, and suspension of your Texas driver’s license. These penalties are increased if a child under the age of 15 was riding in the vehicle at the time of the arrest.
To learn more about Texas DWI law, please visit:
For more information on DWI charges and the penalties that you may face if convicted:
Driver’s License Suspension and DPS Surcharges
In addition to any court-ordered penalties that you may face, the Texas Department of Public Safety may also penalize you with its own set of penalties. In effect, when you are charged with a DWI you must defend against two different cases: preventing your license from being suspended and defending against a DWI conviction in criminal court.
To prevent your license from being automatically suspended after your arrest, you must schedule a hearing within 15 days of your arrest. Otherwise, you may face many months of license suspension that can greatly affect your daily life. In addition, the DPS may tack on a yearly surcharge of $1,000 or more for three years following your conviction.
The following resource provides information on DPS penalties associated with a DWI conviction:
Blood Alcohol Concentration
One of the primary factors used by police to determine if a driver is intoxicated is to use a Breathalyzer test. A Breathalyzer is used to determine the driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The reason that BAC is used as a reason for an arrest is because studies have shown a positive correlation between BAC levels and the likelihood of causing an accident. The more you have been drinking, the higher your BAC, and therefore, the greater the risk you pose on the road.
To learn more about how BAC and its relationship to crash risk: