Arrest For Owi In Texas
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You should interview and retain a lawyer as soon as possible. In Texas, you have 15 days to request a hearing to keep your drivers license. If you do not, your license will be suspended. It is helpful to have an attorney at the first court setting.
Unless your record is sealed or expunged, a Texas DWI will stay on your record forever. A conviction could result in a lifetime of complications, especially if it's a felony DWI. If you have a DWI conviction on your record, you could find it difficult to keep a job or find appropriate housing.
offense DWI, with no aggravating factors, is considered a Class B misdemeanor. A conviction is punishable by up to 180 days in jail, up to $2,000 in fines, or both. You also face a driver's license suspension of up to one year if you become convicted.
There are also options for deferred adjudication, especially for first offenses. On first DWI charges, approximately 14.5% result in deferred adjudication, on top of the 34% dismissal rate. This data only includes the top five counties in Texas — smaller counties are often less likely to dismiss DWIs.
Texas law allows you to file a petition to expunge your DWI charges (referred to as “expunction” in Texas) only when any of the following occurs: You receive an acquittal, The court dismisses your case without the requirement of any probation first, or. The grand jury issues a “no bill.”
A regular first DWI is a class B misdemeanor carrying a maximum $3,000 fine and up to 6 months in jail. A first DWI with a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of 0.15 or higher is a class A misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $6,000 and 1-year jail sentence.
Texas takes DWI convictions very seriously, and as such, they will remain on your record – and appear in background checks – forever. However, first-time DWI arrests almost never result in jail time. Most are resolved with dismissals, plea bargaining, and reduced charges.
In Texas, if you're convicted of a DWI, you are facing up to 180 days in jail for a first offense if your BAC is under a . 15. If it is a second offense or your BAC is equal to or greater than a . 15 you are facing up to 365 days in jail.
Penalties: Adults Just like it does for minors, Texas assigns DWI penalties for drivers 21 years old or older ing to the offense number and other situation-specific factors. Up to a $2,000 fine. Jail time between 3 days and 180 days. License suspension for up to 2 years.
