Why Professionals & Other Attorneys Hire Us For DWI Cases In TX
https://www.MedlinFirm.com/ | (682) 204-4066 DWI stands for driving while intoxicated. DUI stands for driving under the influence. These terms are often confused, but there are clear legal distinctions between them. Let's learn more about how DUI and DWI differ from each other from arrest to punishment. The Threshold for Arrest DUI charges or driving under the influence charges are leveled at those under 21. It is illegal for someone to have any alcohol in their system. That's why you can be arrested for DUI with a blood alcohol level of 0.05 whereas adults can be prosecuted for DWI with a BAC of 0.08 or higher. However, Texas says you're legally intoxicated if it affects your driving. This means you can face DWI or DUI charges if it contributes to reckless driving or an accident regardless of what you took and how much as in your system. And you could be arrested for DUI if you are impaired due to a legal substance like prescription medication. The Penalties The first set of DUI charges are a class C misdemeanor. This comes with a fine of up to 500 dollars. For an adult, the first arrest is a class B misdemeanor. And you'll have to spend at least three days in jail, though you could be sentenced to as long as six months in prison. Note that minors can be charged with DWI, a more serious offense, if they had a high blood alcohol content level, were under the influence of drugs like marijuana or caused injuries due to their intoxicated driving. Furthermore, a DUI conviction as a minor will lead to stiffer penalties if you're arrested for DWI as an adult later on. How Repeat Arrests Are Handled Texas has come down hard on drunk drivers. Repeat offenses for DWI can result in felony charges. Under state law, a third DWI offense is almost always a third degree felony. A third DUI is a class B misdemeanor if you're under 21, and it can result in up to 180 days in prison for minors who are not under 18. However, the Dallas-Fort Worth area is shifting to treatment and other attempts to address the root causes of such offenses rather than punishing them. This is why a repeat DUI/DWI offender in Tarrant County may be put in the Felony Alcohol Intervention Program or FAIP instead of being sent to prison. The program requires someone to attend counseling for their addiction and regularly submit to tests for drugs and alcohol. The person spends four years on probation. Once they've completed the program, they are released from court supervision. If someone doesn't meet the standards for FAIP, the second offense could result in as much as a year in prison and a doubling of the fines. You will lose your driver's license for 18 months, if it is your second DWI. With a third DWI conviction, you'll be sentenced to at least two years. Note that this could be a combination of jail time and probation. But you'll almost certainly lose your driving privileges for years after a third DUI/DWI arrest. This is why you want to get treatment before you re-offend and want to fight DUI charges as hard as you can. Fort Worth Office The Medlin Law Firm 1300 S University Dr No. 318 Fort Worth, TX 76107 (682) 204-4066 https://www.medlinfirm.com/locations/fort-worth/ Dallas Office The Medlin Law Firm 2550 Pacific Ave No. 866 Dallas, TX 75226 (214) 888-4810 https://www.medlinfirm.com/locations/dallas/