A DWI Can Have A Life Altering Impact
There is no leniency in Denton Texas for people who drive while intoxicated (DWI). Upon conviction, your punishment is clearly laid out for you, although there is some leeway for the judge to hand down a customized sentence. There are mandatory minimums and consequences for people convicted of DWI that are legally required. However, there are other ramifications that you should worry about as well. With a DWI conviction on your record, there are a number of other potential problems, aside from the legal issues you’ll face. A DWI will affect you for a long time to come, financially as well as personally and professionally.
Legal Penalties
If you are convicted of DWI in Texas, your penalties will depend on whether this is your first conviction or if you’ve been previously convicted of DWI. If this is your first conviction and there are no other charges, you’re facing a minimum of three days in jail, but this could go up to as long as six months. Your driver’s license will be suspended for a minimum of three months, but it could be up to a year. You’ll also have fines to pay, one to the state for $3,000 as well as another fine of up to $2,000.
If this is your second DWI conviction, the fine paid to the state is now $4,500, and the second fine can reach $4,000. Your mandatory time in jail is now a month, but it could stretch to a year. As for your driving privileges, you could lose your license for up to two years with a second DWI conviction.
If you are convicted a third time for DWI in Texas, the punishments get even more severe. Instead of being sent to jail, you will now serve at least two years in prison, but it could be increased to 10 years. The fine you will pay the state is now $6,000 and the other fine goes up to $10,000. The length of time you will be without a driver’s license is the same as it was for the second conviction, about two years. If a child is riding in the car with you when you’re stopped, there will be even more penalties, including an additional $10,000 fine, a longer time without driving privileges, more time incarcerated, and an additional charge involving child endangerment.
Professional Problems
The legal penalties are certainly bad, but a DWI comes with other problems as well. If you’re behind bars there’s no way you can hold down a job, which affects your family’s income and how much money you’ll have once you’re released. This could even lead to you totally losing your job, which severely affects you and your family financially.
There are certain professions that refuse to employ people convicted of DWI, so there are opportunities in the job market that will be denied to you. If you hold a professional license, there’s a chance that it could be taken away as well. If you have a green card or are in the U.S. on a visa, your status could be lost, and you could end up being deported.
You can also expect to pay a lot more for car insurance and life insurance with a DWI on your record. Even if you’re able to avoid substantial jail time, without your driver’s license your ability to get around will certainly be curtailed. You won’t be able to accept a job unless you can get to and from there on public transportation, and you certainly won’t be able to earn money driving for Uber or Lyft.
Personal & Family Problems
Being convicted of a DWI has consequences that not only affect you personally but your family as well. If you’re separated or divorced and fighting for custody of your child(ren), a DWI conviction will not look favorably to the judge. You may not be allowed to foster or adopt children, and others may not feel safe riding in a car you’re driving once your license is returned.
There could be barriers to you joining the military, and strangely enough, you may even find yourself prevented from crossing international borders. Certain countries keep people with DWI convictions from entering, even if you’re trying to walk across into Mexico to shop or for a quick lunch. Furthermore, if you decide to go back to school, a DWI on your record could keep you from obtaining certain types of financial aid.
Conclusion
A single DWI conviction can result in a whole lot of financial and personal problems. So, if you are faced with DWI charges, find yourself a skilled DWI attorney who will work diligently to minimize the severity of the consequences. The Law Offices of Daniel K. Peugh has a stellar 5-Star rating after defending and resolving thousands of DWI cases. Please contact us for a free consultation on your case.
You owe it to yourself and your family to have a fighting chance to continue living as normal a life as possible. You can increase your chances by hiring a legal team that knows the system and how to work it to your advantage.