Posts tagged Driving Under The Influence
What Are The Penalties For DUI in Houston?
Apr 15th
Reader’s Question:
What kind of punishments does the state of Texas impose on someone who got arrested for drunk driving? I want to help my brother out because he got charged a DUI and it’s his first time! Thanks!
Lenard
Houston, TX
Drivers in Houston would be well advised to be knowledgeable about the laws and punishments for a DUI or Driving Under the Influence offense in Texas. Anyone convicted of such an offense can expect heavy penalties including costly fines, license suspension, and can even be sentenced to prison. If you have been convicted of a DUI, a DUI auto insurance policy is quite necessary before you are allowed to drive again.
Here are some important details about DUI penalties in Texas: First offense gets $2,000 in fines, 72 hours to 180 days in prison, 90 days to one year license revocation and the need to install Interlock Ignition Devices on all vehicles owned at the offender’s expense. Second offense: $4,000 fine, 6 months to 1 year license revocation, and 30 days up to 1 year in prison. Third offense: $10,000 fine, 2 – 10 years imprisonment and 2 years license revocation.
Your auto insurance coverage can become very expensive after a DUI conviction. This is due to the high-risk associated with DUI offenders. But that doesn’t mean that affordable DUI auto insurance cannot be found, one would just have to know how and where to look for one.
Save yourself the time and trouble, and shop for the best-priced DUI auto insurance coverage available through the Internet. There are many dedicated online DUI and auto insurance specialists catering to the Houston market these days. Run free auto insurance quote checks and compare offers to quickly find the auto insurance policy that best fits your needs.
Getting the right kind of DUI auto insurance policy can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars a year. It only takes a few minutes of your time, and just a bit of effort, to accomplish this but the pay-off is definitely worth it.
Convicted of DUI in Houston – How Much Will Auto Insurance Increase?
Apr 5th
Reader’s Question:
I live in Houston TX and recently I was convicted of DUI. Now Im a bit worried with my auto insurance if they will increase my insurance rate. How much will it be?
Ricky
Houston TX
Houston drivers would be well advised to know how strict Texas laws are when it comes to DUI or Driving Under the Influence. Even stricter are the punishments faced by anyone proven to be driving drunk or under the influence of drugs. Fines can be very costly, license suspended, and the possibility of going to jail is very real, just for of a few bottles of suds. A DUI auto insurance policy is also essential once you are allowed to drive again after a DUI.
Let’s take a closer look at the penalties Texas has for DUI offenders: First-time offenders gets fined $2,000, jail time from 72 hours up to 180 days, 90 day – one year license suspension and you would need to install an Interlock Ignition Device on all of your vehicles at your own expense. 2nd offense: $4,000 fine, 30 days – 1 year in jail, license suspension for 6 months to a year. 3rd offense: $10,000 fine, 2 – 10 years in jail, and two years license revocation.
Life after a DUI can be very expensive, especially when it comes to auto insurance coverage. One can expect much higher rates and premiums if you have a DUI on your record, however, affordable DUI auto insurance coverage is still available, you just have to know how and where to look for them.
The Internet is one of the best, if not THE best, ways to maximize your chances of getting an affordable DUI auto insurance. Houston is a big market and there are many dedicated DUI and auto insurance providers and online insurance portals that caters to it. By running free auto insurance quote checks and comparing many different companies, you are sure to find an auto insurance policy that best suits your needs.
Remember, the right kind of DUI auto insurance can save you hundreds of dollars a year, if not more. It doesn’t take days or hours to find them, only minutes of your time and a small bit of effort. Done correctly, you are sure to find a quality auto insurance provider that doesn’t break your bank.
DUI SR22 Insurance In Houston
Feb 11th
Reader’s Question:
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.
Denied Car Insurance in Houston Texas?
Nov 6th
Reader’s Question
Why would Car insurance companies refuse to offer me insurance coverage? I live here in Houston, Texas and I’m surprised that I had a hard time getting car insurance!
Monty
Houston, TX
There are many reasons why car insurance companies may choose to deny you coverage which is a very difficult predicament seeing as the financial responsibility laws there in Houston, Texas (and most other states) would require you to have some level of car insurance coverage when on the road.
Here’s some of the reasons why an auto insurance provider might refuse you coverage:
1. Your city or location has very high crime-rate involving car theft and vehicle vandalism.
2. Your driving record is less than stellar and you may have even been caught or convicted Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or have other charges resulting from moving violations.
3. Your credit rating is really bad. As in really, really bad.
4. You’ve filed too many claims with your previous car insurance company.
5. You lack driving experience or you haven’t had any other kind of insurance in your life before.
So what if you’ve said yes to most of the items listed above? How can you get the car insurance you need? To good news is that there are still car insurance providers out there that are willing to cover you, for a higher price of course. You just have to look for them. You could also participate in the state assigned risk pool. This is a collection of insurance providers who have agreed to provide you coverage regardless of your record but expect higher premiums.
Cheap Teen Car Insurance in Houston Texas
Oct 23rd
Reader’s Question:
How can I be involved in saving some money for the car insurance of my teenage daughter here in Houston, Texas? I need cheap car insurance really bad. 
Tariq
Houston, TX
You have a very important part on your teenage daughter’s driving. You could be involved in saving money for her car insurance in Houston, Texas by riding with her sometimes to be sure that her driving skills will not be lax and she still understands the significance of following the traffic regulations. You have to be a good example for her also by not showing that you are disobeying traffic rules because she might mimic that attitude. You can also speak with her about the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. This might be hard to talk over with her but you have to take your shot so that it could lessen the chance that she may take part in such an act.
You might also want to just add her to your auto insurance policy so that you could pass on some discounts you could get. Tell your daughter how much her portion is on your car insurance even if they don’t have to pay it and speak with her about what she could do about getting discounts and saving some money on the insurance coverage. This way, they’d feel a sense of responsibility about the auto insurance and would drive safely so that you won’t have increased insurance rates.
Houston DUI – Arraignment and Motion to Suppress?
Aug 9th
Reader’s Question:
I just recently had the arraignment of my DUI case here in Houston, Texas and I pleaded not guilty so the case will continue. Would all be the evidence against me on my drunk driving arrest automatically be admissible in court?
Grant
Houston, TX
When the prosecution begin to prepare their DUI case against you in Houston, Texas, they start by collecting all the evidence that supports their claim that you were really driving under the influence. But just because the prosecutors have collected it and want to present it at trial does not mean that it is automatically admissible. There are actually strict legal requirements that determine whether a piece of evidence can be presented at trial. A very important part of making your DUI case is arguing that the evidence that the prosecution wants to present at trial does not meet these requirements and therefore cannot be used against you.
Your DUI lawyer can formally request for motion to suppress to ask the court to exclude certain evidence from a trial because it was obtained illegally or improperly by the police officer. An example is that your DUI lawyer can argue that the officer did not have probable cause to pull you over. Suppression motion would argue that the officer’s belief that you were drunk driving was not “reasonable.” That means that the officer’s justification for your DUI stop should be something he actually saw. If motion to suppress will be successful, all the evidence that was made possible by pulling you over can also be suppressed.
Houston TX DUI Breath Test Refusal
Jul 25th
Reader’s Question:
If I refused to take a breathalyzer test or any form of testing when found driving under the influence in Houston, Texas, would that automatically mean suspension of my driver’s license? And if yes, is there a way for me to prevent it?
Adrian
Houston, TX
When found driving under the influence in Houston, Texas, there is a process that you have to go through first before your driver’s license is suspended. After an arresting officer charged you for DUI, you have the right to what is called an Administrative License Revocation Hearing (ALR hearings). At the time of your arrest, you should receive a written notice about the suspension of your driver’s license. Then you will have 15 days from the date of receipt, to request in writing, a hearing from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) headquarters. If you fail to request a hearing, you will lose the right for ALR and your license will be suspended on the 40th day after receiving the notice.
If the officer did not give you a notice about your license suspension, you will still get a notice from DPS sent to you via certified mail. After receiving the DPS notice, you will have 15 days to file for a hearing instead of 15 days from the date of your arrest. A 5-day grace period is given after the notice is mailed, giving you 15 days to request for a hearing. But it is advised not to rely on receiving a notice from DPS to request a hearing or you might end up waiving the right for ALR.
Hiring a Houston Texas DUI Lawyer
Jul 19th
Reader’s Question:
My sister has been charged with DUI here in Houston, Texas. We have not decided whether or not we will hire a lawyer because my sister said that she can get out of this on her own. How important is having a lawyer in cases such as this?
Lindsay
Houston, TX
Often times, the importance of retaining a good DUI defense lawyer if arrested for driving under the influence is being overlooked. Since she was charged with DUI in Houston, Texas, the magnitude of having a good DUI lawyer on your sister’s side equals that of having the best doctor trying to save her life. Of course, a DUI conviction is not a matter of life or death in its literal sense, but a DUI conviction or guilty plea would definitely affect her life.
If your sister will be convicted for DUI, the most obvious effect on her life by is the punishment. Depending on whether she is guilty of a misdemeanor offense or a felony DUI offense, she would pay a fine, potentially lose her license to drive, possibly serve some sort of community service, and maybe serve some time in prison. Not to mention the fact that in Texas, the punishment escalates if the person is convicted of a DUI-related offense for the second time within a certain time frame.
These are just some of the possible consequences that your sister might be facing if she will be convicted for DUI. So, she has to think hard about the importance of having a DUI lawyer on her side.
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