Texas DWI Laws and Penalties

First Time for Everything

Many countries take driving while intoxicated (DWI) seriously. Studies have shown that in Texas, about every 20 minutes, somebody gets injured or killed because of a car accident involving alcohol. So you must know then, Texas takes driving while intoxicated VERY seriously.

What happens when you are stopped for driving while intoxicated? Well, surely you would have to show the arresting officer your driver’s license and vehicle registration. If it is your first offense, you are still pretty lucky. The first offense of driving while intoxicated in Texas is a Class B Misdemeanor, meaning, it is less serious than a Class A misdemeanor, with a lower amount of fine and less penalties. If it was proven that you were indeed intoxicated while driving, you would have to pay a fine up to $2,000, spend three days to six months in county jail, lose your driver’s license for a maximum of one year, and an annual fee of $1,000 to $2,000 in order to maintain your driver’s license.

Looking at the bright side, as I have said, first offense is only a class B misdemeanor; the penalty is lighter. Most persons convicted for their first offense are usually on “probation”, that is, they would be under community supervision which could last up to two years. They would usually be required to attend programs promoting awareness of the consequences of drinking alcohol, perform hours of community service, and attend a Victim Impact Panel, which is a forum where the persons convicted of DWI are addressed by victims of DWI to make them realize the risks and dangers of driving while intoxicated. They would also be required to complete a DWI Education class which would remove the one-year driver’s license suspension except for minors.

They say that there is a first time for everything, but with all the penalties that have to go with it, would you want a first time for DWI? I think not, especially if you are in Texas.