Most violations of traffic laws lead to citations. Police officers pull people over and issue them tickets to deter them from making unsafe choices in traffic. Occasionally, someone breaks a more serious traffic law and faces arrest followed by criminal charges.
Police officers arrest hundreds of people in Texas every week based on allegations of driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenses. Many people view the average DWI offense as a victimless crime. They may expect a relatively lenient sentence from the courts if they have no criminal record. Yet, contrary to what many people assume, the Texas criminal courts can impose surprisingly harsh penalties for a DWI conviction, potentially including the following.
Financial penalties
The fine for a first DWI conviction could be up to $2,000. Someone convicted of a second DWI may have to pay as much as $4,000. Those facing third DWI charges are at risk of up to $10,000 in fines. There are also additional state fines sometimes assessed. There can be secondary financial penalties as well, including increased insurance costs after a DWI.
Incarceration in state facilities
Even a first-time DWI charge could lead to jail time. The state imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of three days, but the courts could sentence someone to up to 180 days in state custody. A driver with a prior DWI may spend between one month and one year in jail after their conviction. Someone facing a third DWI charge, which is a felony charge, may need to serve between two and 10 years in prison.
A loss of driving privileges
After a first DWI conviction, a driver loses their license for up to a year. A second DWI doubles the penalty, and additional charges after the second can also lead to a two-year license suspension. A guilty plea does not give a judge the authority to deviate from minimum sentencing rules, nor does it protect a defendant from facing all three types of penalties.
Those accused of a DWI offense may want to consider different options for defending against these charges with the assistance of a skilled legal team. Fighting a DWI charge successfully can help someone avoid the challenging penalties that the courts might impose.