I WAS CHARGED WITH A DWI, HOW LONG WILL I LOSE MY LICENSE FOR?
Jan. 8, 2018
People depend on driving for everything from their livelihood to their day-to-day activities. The ability to drive is crucial to most of our everyday lives. That is why when you are facing charges for drunk driving, a major concern is how long will I lose my license?
The answer to this is not always simple and straightforward, but can depend on a variety of factors and circumstances. DWI laws and loss of license penalties vary from state to state. In Texas, there are a number of factors taken into account to determine how long you may be without a license if you are charged with a DWI.
For instance, if a person is arrested for drunk driving and you fail or refuse to take a breathalyzer a driver’s license will be administratively suspended. The license may be suspended for 180 days for a first offense refusal or 90 days for a first offense failure and up to 2 years for second offense failure or refusal. If subsequently convicted of a DWI, this may result in additional license suspension.
Upon a first offense conviction a license may be suspended for up to 2 years with this penalty potentially increasing for any subsequent offense. In addition to the loss of license, those convicted may face other significant penalties such as high insurance surcharges, fines and fees, including extensive fees necessary to reinstate your license, as well as court ordered driver education programs and the installation of an ignition interlock device in a vehicle. If the driver holds a commercial driver’s license, the driver may face even greater penalties, including a one-year disqualification of the license.
There are opportunities to defend against a DWI charge and limit the loss of license, as well as an option to obtain a hardship license while the license is suspended. An experienced DWI attorney can assist those with questions about how best to challenge a DWI charge.
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