Texas DWI Defense Center

Approximately 1.5 million people are arrested for DWI annually in the United States. The DWI machine snares many fine, upstanding people. You don’t have to be guilty or a bad person to be accused. Sometimes good people get in bad trouble, and when they do, they need a good lawyer.

DWI: 2nd Offense in Texas

Texas traffic laws define DWI or driving while intoxicated as operating a vehicle of any sort while intoxicated. The laws further define intoxication as having a blood, breath, or urine…

DWI: 1st Offense in Texas

DWI or driving while intoxicated is a series of drug and alcohol-related traffic misdemeanors that usually attract criminal offense litigation in the state of Texas. They are in addition subject…

The Court Process – What Happens Next?

Court and Representation After a Texas DWI arrest, the case is assigned to a certain court. In most Texas counties, misdemeanor cases are assigned to county courts and felony cases…

How Many Drinks Until .08?

No Chart or Rule of Thumb Can Accurately Predict Alcohol Level A person can be convicted of Texas DWI if they have an alcohol concentration of .08 in their blood,…

Save Your Drivers License

Just because you have been arrested for DWI in Houston and refused the Texas DWI breath test or failed the breath test DOES NOT mean you are going to automatically…

What is a Marijuana DUI

Driving under the influence of drugs, including marijuana, is illegal. Yet while driving under the influence of alcohol can be established by measuring blood alcohol content, proving that someone is…

Holiday DWI Enforcement Checkpoints

From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, Houston DWI Task Forces will be stopping thousands of drivers on the roads. Approximately, 20 percent will be arrested for DUI. If you are pulled…

How Much Does a DWI Cost in Texas?

Because it varies greatly, the answer is not the same for everyone. In any case, it’s not a pretty picture. The amounts listed here are only estimates for a first-time offense and should not be taken literally. Repeated offenses result in increased penalties.

When someone is arrested, their car is usually towed and stored. Fees range between $45 and $100.

A $100 reinstatement fee is required if the driver’s license (or privilege to obtain a license) is suspended following an ALR hearing, or if no hearing is requested.

Bail costs vary widely depending on a variety of factors. A few fortunate people are granted personal recognizance bonds, which cost nothing except the promise to appear in court. Most people, however, must pay between $50 and $500 to be released.

Some counties require pretrial supervision (believe it or not, probation even before conviction, solely based on the accusation), as well as monthly fees of around $20 until the case is resolved.

The fine for a first offense is between $0 and $2000. A typical fine is $500.

Court fees range between $160 and $300, not including subpoena fees. A $15 fee is added if a videotape was used.

The length of probation determines the probation fees in Texas. The statutory range for such fees is $25-$40 per month, so two-year probation can cost up to $960.

Regular probation conditions include completing a Texas DWI education program, which costs $50-$75. Private alcoholism counseling or treatment can cost thousands of dollars. There may be less expensive government programs available.

Without a doubt, insurance rates will skyrocket, and options will be limited. The insurer may require a six-month advance purchase. An SR-22, which is required by the state, is $50 more. A lapse in coverage can result in the suspension of a driver’s license.

The impact on the driver’s insurance rate is one of the most important variables. State Farm and Allstate, for example, will simply refuse coverage. Price is determined by a variety of factors, including age, marital status, make and model of car driven, levels and type of coverage sought, driving record, and whether the DWI involved a wreck or other charges.

Attorney fees, of course, vary greatly. They can vary from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars, depending on a variety of factors.

Other indirect costs include lost work time due to court appearances and jail time. In most wreck cases, restitution for injuries and property damage is a condition of probation. While a driver’s license is suspended, transportation costs include cab or bus fares. Occupational licenses, which necessitate the filing of a lawsuit, also cost hundreds of dollars.

Other factors to consider include the possibility of job loss or a reduction in opportunities. Marriages and other personal relationships are frequently severely and profoundly harmed.

How much will a DWI conviction set you back? The short answer is a lot. Given the extraordinary consequences of a conviction, it is critical to obtain competent legal counsel. Many people seem to believe they cannot afford a lawyer and therefore appear in court and plead guilty without representation. Please seek the assistance of a competent Texas DWI defense attorney; do not go it alone. After all, that attorney fee may not seem so bad in the long run.