Chart for DWI Related Driver’s License Suspensions in Texas

July 5, 2013

By Collin County Criminal Defense Lawyer Jeremy Rosenthal

texasdefensefirm.com

(972) 369-0577

Here’s a quick run-down of driver’s license suspension times which relate to Driving While Intoxicated charges (as of July, 2013).

Driver’s license suspensions related to drunk driving charges occur one of two ways: (1) by either a breath/ blood test refusal/ failure: or (2) because of a conviction for DWI.

These determinations are slippery and the code doesn’t do a very clear job of sorting them out.  It’s best to consult an attorney before trying to figure it out on your own.  Also suspension’s listed below due to refusal/ or denial are appealable through Administrative License Revocation hearings (otherwise known as ALRs).  Though the State and police want you to really think these are automatic upon arrest — they really aren’t.

DUI (Minors with any detectible about of alcohol):

1st arrest — 60 day suspension

1 prior — 120 days

2 prior — 180 day suspension

1st DWI arrest (regardless of age):

Refusal:  180 day suspension

Failure (breath or blood over 0.08):  90 day suspension

Conviction: 90 days to 1 year (suspension is abated by classes taken during probation)

2nd “alcohol related contact” within 10 years

Refusal:  2 year suspension.

Failure:  1 year suspension.

Conviction of DWI 2nd: 180 days – 2 years (suspension may be partially abated by classes taken during probation)

Conviction of DWI 2nd within 5 years: 1 to 2 years (suspension may be partially abated by classes taken during probation).

*Jeremy Rosenthal is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas. For legal advice about any situation you should contact an attorney directly.

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Occupational Driver’s Licenses for Texas DWIs

March 25, 2010

By Collin County Criminal Defense Lawyer Jeremy Rosenthal

texasdefensefirm.com

(972) 369-0577

What is an Occupational Driver’s License?

In Texas, an occupational license (also known as an ODL) is a temporary permit allowing people to drive while their license has been suspended due to a breath test refusal or breath test failure in a DWI situation.

How Can I Get an Occupational Driver’s License?

An occupational license is attained through a civil petition (basically a civil lawsuit) which a judge must approve.  The Judge can allow someone to drive for 4 hours a day (but can extend that to 12 hours a day upon showing of “essential need.”)  The court order, by law, must contain the times and routes of travel.  Judges can also order other provisions such as interlock devices be placed on cars during the occupational period for DWI cases.

For those with irregular travel due to work (for things such as sales routes), Judges can order log-books be kept in the vehicle.  Also, for the issuance of an occupational license, the State requires you attain what is known as SR-22 insurance.

What is an “Essential Need?”

Tex.Trans.C. 521.241 defines “essential need” as:

“(A)  in the performance of an occupation or trade or for transportation to and from the place at which the person practices the person’s occupation or trade;  (B)  for transportation to and from an educational facility in which the person is enrolled; or  (C)  in the performance of essential household duties.”

Chapter 522 of the Texas Transportation Code covers commercial vehicles.  No occupational licenses can be granted for commercial vehicles.  Tex.Transp.C. 521.242(f).

Occupational questions and qualifications can be very complex and consulting an attorney can save you much time and effort.

Quick References for More Information

The statutes governing driver’s license suspenses and occupational licenses due to intoxication and even marijuana offenses read like complicated flow charts and matrices… but here are some generalities and reference points:

Occupational licenses are governed by Chapter 521 of the Texas Transportation Code, Subchapter L.  Breath test suspensions are governed by Chapters 524 and 724 of the Texas Transportation Code.

*Jeremy Rosenthal is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas. Nothing in this article is intended to be legal advice.  For specific legal advice in your situation, you should consult an attorney.

 

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What is the Result or Punishment for a 1st DWI in Texas?

February 22, 2010

By Collin County Criminal Lawyer Jeremy Rosenthal

texasdefensefirm.com

(972) 369-0577

In Dallas and Collin County where I practice, DWI’s are statistically very winnable.  Today’s blog, though, deals with what happens if you plead guilty or are found guilty at trial.

A first DWI in Texas is a Class ‘B’ misdemeanor.  A first DWI conviction in Texas is not a felony.  Even as a misdemeanor a conviction stays on your criminal record forever.

The punishment range for a Texas DWI is between 72 hours an 180 days of jail and/or up to a $2,000 fine.

Don’t panic!  That time is usually probated — meaning you’re on probation for DWI and only if you violate your probation do you look at going back to jail.  I can safely say in my experience as a prosecutor and a DWI defense lawyer the vast majority of persons arrested for DWI spend no time in jail after their original arrest.  Of course, no lawyer can guarantee you any result.

With the punishment range as it is, your lawyer must admonish you that it is legally possible for you to be assessed 180 days and a $2,000 fine.  This is not to minimize the consequences, but most experienced DWI lawyers in Dallas and Collin Counties will tell you that result is highly unlikely.

You should also be aware that if you’re convicted of DWI and your breath test result was a 0.15 or above, you’re legally required to have a deep lung device installed on your car for at least half of the probation period.

Beginning in September, 2011, a DWI with a blood alcohol concentration above a 0.15 is now a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year of jail — again — typically probated.

Also there is a surcharge for renewing your driver’s license of $1,000 upon conviction for 3 years following the conviction.  The surcharge goes up to $2,000 per year if your breath and/or blood is a 0.16 or higher.

*Jeremy Rosenthal is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas. Nothing in this article is intended to be legal advice.  For legal advice please consult an attorney.

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Your Driver’s License Isn’t Actually Automatically Suspended If You Refuse A Breath Test

February 20, 2010

By Collin County Criminal Defense Lawyer Jeremy Rosenthal

(972) 369-0577

Texas DWI’s have two sides.  There is a criminal side and the administrative side (i.e., the driver’s license suspension.)  Today I’m only discussing the administrative driver’s license suspension side.

Texas has an “implied consent” law.  This means when you got your driver’s license, you implied to the Department of Public Safety (“DPS”) that if an officer ever offered you a breath-test, you would comply.  If you fail to comply – or you do comply and blow over 0.08 – then your driver’s license can be suspended.

What the DPS media blitz omits is that this isn’t automatic.  You have 15 days from the date of arrest to submit an appeal.  The instructions are on the sheet of paper they should have given you when they confiscated your driver’s license.

You are appealing the officer’s decision to ask you to take the breath test and/or the breath test score.  These things can be very legally technical and it is frankly difficult for people to win without lawyers.  These proceedings are generally called ALR’s by lawyers which is short for Administrative Law Review.

ALR’s are done in Collin and Dallas Counties like a deposition in a conference room and most lawyers advise their clients not to attend.  If the ALR Judge determines DPS lost your ALR, then your driver’s license is not suspended.  This happens all the time.

The ALR proceedings run concurrently or parallel to your criminal DWI case.  Sometimes the ALR proceedings take longer and sometimes they’re shorter.  If you win your DWI on the criminal side, the driver’s license suspension can also be negated.

*Jeremy Rosenthal is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas. Nothing in this article is intended to be legal advice.  For legal advice consult an attorney.

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What Happens After an Arrest and Release From Jail on a DWI

February 18, 2010

By Collin County Criminal Defense Lawyer Jeremy Rosenthal

texasdefensefirm.com

(972) 369-0577

You’ve been released from jail after the worst night of your life after a DWI arrest.  Now what?

You’re immediately responsible for two things when you get released.

First is that if your driver’s licenses was taken by the officer because you either refused the breath test or the machine reading was above a 0.08 – you have 15 days from the date of the arrest to file for an Administrative Law Review Appeal (“ALR”).  If you don’t file your appeal, your temporary driver’s license (the yellow sheet of paper they’ve given you at the jail) will be valid for only 40 days from the date of arrest.  If you do appeal – the suspension is put off until your hearing, which is usually farther out than 40 days.  If you win the ALR, your license doesn’t get suspended.  If you lose the ALR, you may be eligible for an occupational license.

Second is that, in all likelihood, you’ll get a notice to come to Court.  Collin County will mail your court date usually somewhere between one and two months after your arrest — but it can be sooner so watch your mailbox!  Dallas gives you a case number and has you check in every few weeks until the case is filed – at which point you can begin evaluating the nuts and bolts of your case.

Collin County will sometimes give you an immediate court date a week or so after your release from jail on a DWI for the purposes of complying with Texas code provisions that require a judge to assess whether you need an interlock device (deep lung device) on your car.  You should get this notice upon leaving jail if you get it at all.

*Jeremy Rosenthal is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas. Nothing in this article is intended to be legal advice.  For legal advice about this situation or any legal matter you should consult an attorney.

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