Texas has a reputation as a “law and order” state, both because of movies like No Country for Old Men, where the storylines focus on law enforcement’s pursuit of a criminal, and because, in reality, Texas has some fairly draconian laws, especially in comparison to other states. For example, whereas in California, you can order cannabis edibles delivered to your door from dispensaries whose online catalogs look like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, Texas medical cannabis laws contain a loophole by which it is never truly legal for a physician to give the go-ahead for a patient to use cannabis.
Even Texas DWI cases can result in very heavy penalties; at least one person has received a life sentence for repeated DWI convictions, even though she never caused an accident while driving drunk. Meanwhile, Texas also affords plenty of opportunities for underage drunk driving, namely several big party schools where young people who can legally drive but not legally purchase alcohol have easy access to alcoholic beverages, plus plenty of sprawling highways and scenic country roads on which to drive drunk. As you might expect, the consequences of driving under the influence when you are younger than 21 are serious.
Penalties for Underage Drunk Driving in Texas
Comparied with drivers 21 years of age and older, underage drinkers are subject to more serious punishments the more DWIs they get and the more damage they cause by driving drunk. These are the penalties for underage drinking-related crimes in Texas when the defendant is at least 18 years old or when the defendant is younger than 18 but is being tried as an adult.
- First offense: You can be fined up to $2,000, and you can get your driver’s license suspended for as little as 90 days or as much as a year. You can be sentenced to jail for as much as six months; the minimum jail term is 72 hours, but it increases to six days if you have an open container of an alcoholic beverage with you in the car when you get pulled over.
- Second offense: The maximum fine increases to $4,000, and the license suspension can last from 180 days to two years. Jail time can last anywhere from 30 days to a year.
- Third offense and beyond: Beginning with the third offense, DWI is a felony. The period of license suspension is the same as for a second offense, but the fine for a third or subsequent offense can be as much as $10,000. You can be sentenced to anywhere from two years to 10 years in prison.
Contact Madrid Law About DWI Cases in Houston
No matter your age, your best protection against DWI charges is a defense lawyer who is knowledgeable about DWI laws. Mario Madrid is a criminal defense attorney who represents defendants in the Houston area in cases involving a variety of offenses, including DWI. Contact Madrid Law in Houston for a consultation about your DWI case.
