My DUI conviction here in Houston two years ago had a negative effect on my car insurance. How long will it stay high and what can I do to have lower car insurance?

Gary

Houston, TX

The amount of time that your DUI can affect your car insurance rates in Houston depends on the guiding principles of your car insurance provider and the regulations of the state you live in. Different states have different laws regarding how long a DUI or DWI stays on your driving record. It could stay on your motor vehicle record (MVR) for as short as a few years to as long as 10 years depending on the state and the conditions concerning your DUI conviction. As long as your alcohol-related offense stays on your MVR, it is most probably to have an effect on your car insurance premiums.

Every car insurance carrier has their own means of assessing and rating drivers. To determine the amount of time your DUI will remain on your MVR, you can get in touch with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and to determine how long your present car insurance carrier would continue to give higher premium, get in touch with your car insurance agent.

To lower the payment for your car insurance, you have to shop around the car insurance market. You will discover that even if you have a serious DUI offense two years ago, there are other car insurance companies that can offer you reasonable fees for your coverage. You can do this by simply going online and visiting car insurance comparison quotes Websites. You can collect different car insurance quotes from them and choose the best one that has lower rates than what you pay right now.

What is the main idea behind having SR22 if a driver here in Houston has DUI?

Val

Houston, TX

SR22 insurance, commonly referred to as high risk insurance, is an assurance that a driver has the minimum required insurance coverage. In Houston, a driver will be asked for SR22 insurance if he is considered as high risk driver, particularly if he/she has a conviction for Driving Under the Influence (DUI). It is illegal for someone to drive without the required minimum auto liability insurance. If a motorist was asked to stop by an officer because of a traffic violation and the driver has been convicted for DUI, additional penalties will be applied if it is determined that the driver has no insurance.

DUI SR22 insurance has two types of policies; first is the owner type of policy and the other one is for the non-owner which is simply the operator of the automobile and not essentially the owner. To file for DUI SR22 insurance, the car insurance company will send the form to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). It is crucial for the DUI SR22 insurance policyholder to make sure that the coverage does not lapse for any reason. If this happens, the car insurance company will let the DMV know about this and it will prompt them to re-suspend the driver’s license of the person required to carry DUI SR22 insurance.

I was good enough to get my license here in Houston, Texas suspended and that kind of snow-balled into my car insurance getting canceled as well, what I’m wondering about is I’m told that I will need to maintain an SR-22 form, what is it?

Carla

Houston, TX

An SR-22 is a type of form guaranteeing the state of Texas that you are carrying adequate financial capability (in the form of car insurance coverage) in the event that you cause injury or damage to property resulting from a car accident. This is mandated by the financial responsibility laws of your state and yes, repeat traffic offenders or those at-fault on a vehicular accident will be required to maintain an SR-22 for at least two or three years.

Since your auto insurance got canceled you will need to find another insurance provider there in Houston that will file this form for you, and submit it to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). There may be some administrative fees involved aside from any penalties you may be required to pay to get your license (or a temporary license) back so you can drive again. A good auto insurance agent will be able to give you all the information you need and whatever steps you need to do to file an SR-22 quickly and hassle-free.

It is very important that you maintain continues coverage for the duration of your SR-22. Getting involved in another car accident or managing to get your driver’s license (and much worse, getting caught driving without insurance coverage or while your license is suspended) revoked will only result into significantly heavier fines and penalties and much higher insurance rates.

My brother is insistent that he won’t hire a DUI lawyer to help him defend on his DUI case in Houston Texas. I need help in explaining to him the importance of having a DUI lawyer. How can a DUI lawyer help him on his case?

Ruth

Houston, TX

A DUI charge can be very traumatic, especially if you are not familiar with the legal process in Houston, Texas. A DUI conviction is even worse because it could remain on your criminal record for your entire life. Since your brother has a DUI charge, he has to contact a DUI lawyer immediately. A DUI lawyer would advise him throughout the DUI process and serve as his advocate in court and at his case hearing against the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). He can be assured that every effort will be placed into successfully defending his DUI charges.

Your brother just has to make sure that the lawyer he will be hiring is an experienced lawyer in the DUI field. This kind of lawyer focuses primarily on DUI law and has years of practice experience and a winning reputation. The DUI process is very complex and confusing that is why your brother will need to retain the services of an aggressive DUI lawyer. A DUI lawyer could help him get the legal process with ease and provide him with up-to-date DUI resources and knowledgeable counsel.

A friend of mine has been charged for DWI in Houston, Texas. I’m very much concerned because I was told that if he will be convicted, his punishment can be enhanced. What does this mean and what are the circumstances under which a punishment can be enhanced?

Will

Houston, TX

There are statutes governing DWI laws in Houston. A driver can easily lose his driver’s license if he has one swig too many. One good thing about Houston DWI laws, though, is that it has definitely brought down the accident rate due to drunken driving in Houston, Texas.

Houston DWI laws include implied consent laws which mean that when the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issued a license to a driver, he/she had legally agreed to or implicitly agreed to submit to chemical testing at the request of a law enforcement official, as and when you are required to do so. If he/she fails to consent to these laws, then he/she is in danger of further enhancement of the punishment. Punishment can further be enhanced under a variety of circumstances. If the DUI suspect has a prior Houston DWI conviction, he/she will naturally face stiffer penalties for subsequent DWI offenses.

DWI conviction is also harsher when children are involved in the accident, when excess speeding is involved or during cases where the defendant has a particularly high level of oxygen in the blood. The blood alcohol level should not exceed 0.08 percent. Moreover, a felony DWI conviction means that the conviction remains permanently on the driver’s record.