Posts tagged DUI
Lower Car Insurance Rates After DUI
Aug 1st
Reader’s Question:
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.
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.
How Do I Get a Bail Bond in Houston Texas For DUI Charge?
Sep 10th
Reader’s Question:
My older sister was charged with DUI here in Houston, Texas and I heard my parent talking about a bail or something. What does this mean and does this involves money or I just thought so?
Joy
Houston, TX
In any criminal case, which includes those for DWI cases, the term bail is being used in a lot of recognizable senses such as security-cash or bond-that is given for the appearance for the person arrested for DWI, the bondsman and it could also refer to release the suspect. The first definition is the most common and must be employed for clarity. Admission to bail bond is the order of the court that the DWI suspect be discharged from custody upon bail. The discharge on bail is being accomplished by the acceptance by the court of security for the appearance of the suspect before a court for some part of the criminal proceeding.
In your sister’s DWI case in Houston, Texas, the bail is evidenced by a cognizance or bond that would ordinarily become a record of the court. The bond is in the nature of an agreement that is basically of that the state would release your sister from custody the sureties would undertake that she would appear at a specified time and place to answer the charge made against her. If she fails to appear, the sureties become the absolute debtor of the state for the amount of the bond.
How Do I Get a DWI Expunction From My Record in Houston Texas?
Aug 24th
Reader’s Question:
I heard that my DWI charge here in Houston, Texas can be completely removed from my record. Who is entitled for this, how do I go about doing that and what are the conditions for it?
Marquis
Houston, TX
You can have your DWI charge in Houston, Texas completely removed from your record by way of expunction. Not only does it remove criminal charges from personal records but also arrests, including those of DWI and DUI. Anyone who has been placed under a noncustodial or custodial arrest for committing either a misdemeanor or felony is entitled to have all records and files relating to the arrest expunged. A person charged with DWI can do this if he/she has already been tried for the offense and acquitted by the trial court or convicted and subsequently pardoned.
If you have been released and your DWI charge has not resulted in a final conviction and is no longer pending and there was no court ordered community supervision, you are definitely entitled for expunction. After notice to the state at your request, the trial court presiding over your DWI case in which you were acquitted should enter an order of expunction for you not later than the 30th day after the date of your acquittal. Also, you should not have been convicted of a felony in the five years preceding the date of your arrest is a condition for having your DWI charge expunged.
Would It Be Cheaper To Plead Guilty To DUI in Houston Texas?
Aug 22nd
Reader’s Question:
Is it true that is more costly to defend a DWI case than to plead guilty? If that is the case, will it be better if I just plead guilty to my DWI case in Houston, Texas?
Damian
Houston, TX
Sure it is more costly to defend a DWI case than to plead guilty but you have to keep in mind that so much is at stake which includes considerable penalty fees. This is the reason why the possibility of winning your DWI case in Houston, Texas should not be just dismissed; and it could cost less than you think.
Assuming your DWI case could not be won and just pleading guilty is the biggest mistake that you could do for yourself. Even some DWI lawyers commit this mistake and advise their client to plead guilty after getting the test result and the police report. But you need to know that the breath test, other chemical tests and the field sobriety tests all have potential built-in flaws and these flaws could make the difference in defending your DWI case. An example is that the results of a breath test can be challenged through a Motion to Suppress, with cross examination of the police officer or expert witness or evidence of your sobriety. Considering all these facts, it would not be better for you to just plead guilty on your DWI case.
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.
Houston TX SR22 Auto Insurance Rates
Jun 26th
Reader’s Question:
My brother is convicted with DUI in Texas and already becoming hopeless to get a cheap SR22 insurance. Will we ever find an inexpensive SR22 insurance?
Antoinette
Houston, TX
I need to be honest with you. It would be difficult for your brother to find a cheap SR22 insurance. Your brother is already considered ‘high risk’ in the car insurance industry. That’s why in general, SR22 insurance will be much more expensive than auto insurance for lower risk applicants. But don’t lose hope because you may still be able to find lower cost SR22 insurance in Texas.
I suggest that you shop around with a specialized broker who can show you all available policies for you to get an SR22 in Texas. This should be for free and should not have an obligation to select any of the policies shown to you. If you were charged with any fee, you may not be dealing with a reputable Texas SR22 insurance provider. If you have already taken a look at all available policies, all you have to do is compare them and select the one that’s best for your brother. The Internet is one of the better sources of getting a free quote from multiple insurance carriers with no obligation.
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