Texas DWI DUI Laws

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The maximum prescribed legal BAC limit in Texas is 0.08% per se
(effective from Sep 1st 1999)

(If you’ve been charged with Texas DUI, the law allows 15 days for your Texas DUI Lawyer to make a request for a Texas Department of Public Safety administrative hearing to save your driving license)

Texas DUI DWI Laws and BAC limits

ALL DRIVERS - BAC LIMIT = 0.08%
In the State of Texas it is crime for ANY driver to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.08% and above.

COMMERCIAL DRIVERS - BAC LIMIT = 0.04%
It is a crime for commercial vehicle operators to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.04% or above.

MINOR (under the age of 21) - BAC LIMIT = 0.01%
It is a crime for persons under 21 years of age to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.01% or above.

It is a crime to refuse to submit to a chemical test in Texas and implied consent laws are enforced.

Texas BAC Calculator

BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT CALCULATOR Calculate your BAC using our calculator, know your legal drunk driving limits and stay safe!!

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Penalties for DUI DWI - Drunk Driving in Texas

Texas is a state with a ten-year ‘washout period,’ also known as a 'look back period', this means that a prior conviction is not admissible after ten years. If it is ten years and one day since a driver was convicted of DUI, that driver will be considered a first-time offender. If a driver commits a DUI within ten years of the first DUI, they are considered guilty of a second offense and are subjected to harsher punishments.

First DWI - Drunk Driving Conviction - MISDEMEANOR

The penalty for a first DWI - drunk driving conviction in Texas:

• up to $2,000 fine
• 72 hours to 180 days in jail
• 90 days to 1 year drivers license suspension
• possible ignition interlock restriction
• SR22 insurance requirement

Second DWI - Drunk Driving Conviction - MISDEMEANOR

The penalty for a second DWI - drunk driving conviction in Texas:

• up to $4,000 fine
• 30 days to 1 year in jail
• 6 months to 2 years drivers license suspension
• possible ignition interlock restriction
• SR22 insurance requirement

Third DWI - Drunk Driving Conviction - felony

The penalty for a third DWI - drunk driving conviction in Texas:

• up to $10,000 fine
• 2 years to 10 years in jail
• up to 2 years drivers license suspension
• possible ignition interlock restriction
• SR22 insurance requirement

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Implied consent LAWS

It is a crime to refuse to submit to a chemical test in Texas and implied consent laws are enforced.

Penalties for refusing to submit to a chemical test in Texas

In Texas, if the accused refuses to take a chemical test of their blood, breath or urine, their drivers license will be suspended/revoked.

In addition to the penalties for DUI, you will face:

FIRST CHEMICAL TEST REFUSAL

• 180 days drivers license suspension

SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT REFUSALS

• 2 years drivers license suspension

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Texas SR22 insurance (High Risk DUI DWI SR22 insurance)

Texas auto insurance quotes ENTER ZIP CODE:

Texas SR-22 auto insurance is usually required for a period of 2 years after a DUI - DWI - drunk driving - alcohol related driving conviction and can be very expensive if you go with the wrong provider.  Some insurance companies will not even do an SR22 insurance filing. Get a FREE SR22 DUI auto insurance quote and compare rates to find the best deal, simply enter your ZIP code above and you can be comparing prices for Texas auto insurance in a matter of minutes.

Minimum liability insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles in the state of Texas

The minimum mandatory liability insurance coverage required in the state of Texas for private passenger vehicles is (25/50/25). This equates to the following liability coverage:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability (BIL) per person
• $50,000 for two or more people in one accident
• $25,000 property damage liability (PDL) coverage

What is (BIL) Bodily Injury Liability insurance?

(BIL) Bodily Injury Liability insurance coverage will pay for serious and permanent injury or death to other people when a crash is caused by the insured. An auto insurance company will pay for injuries up to the limits specified in an insurance policy and will provide legal representation for the insured in the event someone tries to sue them.

What is (PDL) Property Damage Liability insurance?

(PDL) Property Damage Liability insurance coverage pays for damages an insured driver or members of an insured drivers family cause (and are liable for) to other people's property in a crash involving a motor vehicle.

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FREE DUI / DWI Case evaluation & by local Texas Lawyer

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Protect your rights! Talk to a local DUI lawyer Texas DUI cases tend to move quickly through the system, and there may be important deadlines that affect your right to assert certain defenses or call witnesses. It’s important that you understand the process your Texas drunk driving case will follow and the important requirements and deadlines before you take any action—but you can’t afford to delay. Talk to a local Texas Drunk Driving Attorney as soon as possible to gather important information such as: • What penalties do you face if convicted of DUI in Texas? • What are the indirect penalties, such as increased insurance rates and diminished job opportunities in Texas? • Does Texas have a mandatory ignition interlock device law? • Was your breathalyzer or blood alcohol content (BAC) test properly administered in accordance with Texas laws and procedures ? • When and how can you get your driver’s license reinstated in Texas? It’s easy to make mistakes under pressure, so make sure that you have the information you need to make good, educated decisions during this process. Contact a local Texas criminal defense attorney specialising in Texas drunk driving laws today.

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Disclaimer: While every effort is made to keep all information up to date, the Texas drunk driving laws change frequently and the information provided should not be construed as legal advice. Drinkdriving.org shall not be held responsible for any actions a person may take as a result of information gathered from this web site. Consultation with a local Texas DUI lawyer is recommended in all cases.

Useful Texas DUI DWI Links:

DWI - Drunk Driving Laws in Texas

Texas Drivers Manual

Texas SR22 Insurance Requirement

Texas Department of Public Safety

Texas Department of Transportation

Texas State Courts

Texas Department of Insurance

Texas DUI Lawyers

Texas DUI discussion forum

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