Posts tagged First Offense
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.
DWI Fines Houston Texas TX
Sep 26th
Reader’s Question:
My brother was caught for DWI here in Houston, Texas and I heard that Houston has stricter DWI laws as compared to any other city in Texas. Do you have any information as to how much is the usual penalty or fine for DWI?
Albert
Houston, TX
There are more rigorous driver responsibility laws put in place in Houston, Texas now than ever before. You may come to a point of paying a high price for a DWI conviction. On your first offense, you could end up paying around $1,000 and a second DWI offense could set you back by $1,500. The charges being cumulative, a convicted driver can end up paying potentially $2,500 in a year. Now that is really a good amount of money that you can end coughing up. It is important that you charter the services of a good DWI attorney to fight your case. A Houston DWI attorney may be able to defend you and substantially reduce the amount of the fine.
A Houston DWI attorney is capable of pointing out the mistakes that the law enforcement agencies may be made during the conviction or argues on the basis of wrong procedures adopted during the chemical tests. The sooner you hire a professional, the better your chances of winning in a Houston DWI charge. Aside from that, being charged with DWI also makes significant factors in getting DWI insurance. These companies may either give you higher rates or if you are on auto insurance, the insurance company may drop off your eligibility. I suggest that you and your brother may need to research more about available DWI insurance on this page and check their free quotations.
What Are Common Causes Of DWI Charge in Houston?
Aug 27th
Reader’s Question:
What could be the elements that a person in Houston, Texas can be charged for DWI? How can they prove intoxication of the person while he was driving?
Archie
Houston, TX
A first offense for DWI in Houston, Texas is a Class B Misdemeanor and if we will legally define it, it would be a person commits an offense if the person is intoxicated while operating a motor vehicle in a public place. The elements of DWI include that the person, on or about a particular date, was operating a motor vehicle in a public place, in a particular county, while intoxicated. The streets, highways, parking lot, beach, etc. are considered public places. “Intoxication” is the term used for prosecution of DWI cases and has been specifically defined by the Texas legislature.
There are three different ways that the State of Texas my prove intoxication. The first one is by not having the normal use of physical faculties. The second one is by not having the normal use of mental faculties and the third one is having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more. It is very important to note that the law provides for intoxication through the introduction of any intoxicating substance into the body. It would not be a defense for DWI if the person has valid prescription for a substance.
Cost of Houston DUI Lawyer
Feb 1st
The cost of a Houston DUI lawyer is as expensive as you want it to be, and even so the costs of your total DUI case is going to be pretty high–for some people, it can be as much as $20,000 for just the first offense. You have bail to pay, court operation fees, tickets and fines, license restoration fees, SR22 insurance, lawyers, and so on and so on and so on. A lot of these fees, fines, and other charges are set in the law and can’t be changed, but you can have some influence on the cost of Houston DUI lawyer and SR22 insurance.
If you want to do this, then you need to shop around for both of these. This is why it’s important to go to multiple consultations. You can both speak with a lawyer to see if you’re compatible and if they are competent and experienced, and in addition to that you can find out the price. A cheap lawyer doesn’t mean bad representation.
As for the SR22 insurance, all you have to do is pull up quotes online. Many people pay something like $400 too much for their auto insurance, so break away from the mold and get a deal by shopping around, adding on discounts, raising deductibles, and so on.