There is never an excuse to drink and drive. Every time someone gets behind the wheel and drives drunk, they are 100% responsible for any accident they may cause. The state of Texas has some of the highest incidences of drunken driving in the U.S., and every 20 minutes, someone in Texas dies because of drunk driving.

Not only is drunk driving a serious offense, drunk driving laws in Houston are especially harsh, but the punishments are necessary. Below are some of the chilling statistics related to drunk driving in the city and why you can’t afford a DUI in Houston.

 

• *  Between 50 and 70 percent of all drunk drivers in Houston have once operated under a suspended license.

• *  362 people in Harris County died because of drunken driving in 2015.

• *  Houston is the 2nd highest leading crash area for drunk driving in the state.

• *  Drunk driving accidents and deaths in Houston have been rising since 2011.

 

Because Texas and the Houston area have such a problem with drunk driving incidents and resultant wrongful deaths, Houston law enforcement has been cracking down on drunk driving. Drunk driving laws in Houston can cost you the following:

 

• First Offense

 

If this is your first offense and you had a BAC of less than .15, you’re subject to up to a 2,000 dollar fine, a license suspension of 90 to 365 days, and jail of 3 days to 180 days. If you had a BAC higher than .15, you might have to pay a fine of up to 4,000 dollars and spend time in jail for up to a year.

 

You will have a criminal record.

 

You will be on probation for at least a year.

 

You will have to install an ignition lock on your vehicle for up to 6 months.

 

Not only can you lose your freedom on your first DUI offense, but you can also severely hamper your future earning potential with a criminal record.

 

• Second Offense

 

Second offenders are subject to a fine of 4,000 dollars and jail for one month and up to a year. They may also lose their license for six months to two years.

 

• Third Offense

 

You are subject to a fine of 10,000 dollars, and anywhere between 2 and ten years of imprisonment. You will lose your license for 180 days or up to 2 years. This is considered a third-degree felony. If you have a felony, you’re disqualified from voting and carrying a firearm.

 

• *  If you were arrested with an open container of alcohol when driving drunk, the drunk driving laws in Houston state that you will spend a minimum of six days in jail.
  

• *  If you caused an accident that resulted in serious bodily injury, you would be charged with Intoxication Assault. Penalties are much more severe. You can go to prison for anywhere between two and ten years. A probated sentence requires at least a 30-day stay in jail.
  

• *  If someone were killed as a result of your DWI, you would be sentenced to pay a fine of 10,000 dollars and can be sent to prison anywhere from 2 years to 20 years. If you are lucky enough to get probation, you will only spend 120 days in jail.
  

• *  Did you get a DUI charge while a child was in the vehicle with you? You’ll be subject to a jail sentence of 180 days to two years. Your fine will be 10,000 dollars. This is also a felony, and you’ll lose your right to vote and bear arms.

 

A DUI is a serious charge. Without the help of an experienced lawyer for drunk driving in Houston, you will spend time in jail or prison, and also lose a lot of your rights that are enshrined in the Constitution. Fines for DUI and DWI are exorbitant, and drunk driving laws in Houston are harsh and intended to inflict the maximum punishment even on the first offense. You can’t afford to drive drunk in Houston. If you’ve made this costly mistake, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney today.