Posts tagged License Suspension
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.
Second DWI Offense Houston Texas TX
Sep 14th
Reader’s Question:
My brother was arrested for his second DWI offense here in Houston, Texas. What are the penalties involved and will he be imprisoned?
Efren
Houston, TX
DWI is a very time-sensitive case so your brother needs to act quickly because his DWI charge in Houston, Texas is already his second DWI offense. Before I educate you on the penalties that would be involved if your brother will be convicted, let me remind you first the he must employ the services of an experienced DWI lawyer to help him file the necessary paperwork and defend him on his DWI case. Several aspects of his life will be greatly affected if he once again will be convicted for DWI.
Your brother will be imprisoned or pay fines if he gets convicted for his second DWI offense. That would be between 30 days to one year and the fines would be up to $4,000. He could also be penalized for both incarceration and fine. The probationary period could be up to 24 months long and include several conditions set by the judge. Having jail time as a condition for the probation is also normal. The driver’s license suspension would be from six months to two years. If the judge doesn’t set a term of suspension, the Department of Public Safety would suspend his license for one year. The completion of the required DWI Intervention Program would not prevent the suspension of his license.
Will My DWI Charge Result in License Suspension in Houston Texas?
Sep 13th
Reader’s Question:
I know that if someone is arrested for DWI in Houston, Texas, the driver’s license could be suspended. But what I need to know is that, do all DWI arrests end in the suspension of the driver’s license of the DWI suspect?
Holly
Houston, TX
The driver’s license suspension that you are referring to is the Administrative License Revocation (ALR), but not all DWI arrests end with suspended driver’s licenses. In most DWI cases, a “Notice of Suspension” is served immediately after the breath or blood alcohol test is failed or refused by the DWI suspect. Unless and until the driver’s license becomes suspended, the DWI suspect could drive without restriction.
A lot of police officers in Houston, Texas tell the people they arrest for DWI that the license is suspended as of the moment of arrest, which is not true. The DWI suspect would automatically lose his driver’s license unless a hearing request is received by the Department of Public Safety within 15 days upon the DWI suspect’s receipt of his notice of suspension. Making a timely and proper request would entitle the accused to a hearing if the driver’s license would be suspended. This administrative hearing would be conducted by the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) and this usually happens within six weeks of arrest. The driver’s license suspension ranges from 90 days to two years.
DWI Breath Test Refusal Houston Texas
Aug 29th
Reader’s Question:
I was told several times not to take the breath test if I’m stopped for DWI here in Houston, Texas. Why would I have to do that if I fairly know that my license would be suspended?
Roy
Houston, TX
Yes, it is true that if you refuse to take the breath test when asked to do so in a DWI investigation by a police officer in Houston, Texas, it would almost certainly result in the suspension of your driver’s license. The driver’s license suspension for breath or any blood alcohol test refusal would be for at least 180 days. However, there are a lot of issues about the breath tests and breath testing machines as many have already raised their concerns about the potential inaccuracy of the breath tests.
It would also be difficult for a DWI lawyer to defend the DWI case which involves breath tests. This is one of the primary reasons why even some DWI lawyers think that it would be impossible for them to recommend any driver to voluntarily submit to breath testing in a DWI investigation. They would rather prefer their potential clients to refuse a breath test, even if it means that they might lose their driver’s license for quite a while, especially if their client has had anything more than a single drink of an alcoholic beverage.
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.
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