Texas is a national leader in many areas―unfortunately, one of these is in the number of accidents and deaths related to driving while intoxicated (DWI). Each year, thousands of Texans are involved in this tragedy; about 2,000 of them die.

The Texas limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) when you're driving is 0.08%. Texas is also a zero-tolerance state for underage drinking; any detectable amount of alcohol in drivers under 21 is a crime.

Yet young drivers account for many alcohol-related traffic accidents, and the age group with the most violations and accidents are those between 21 and 34. Remember, teens and young people are actually more prone to reaching higher alcohol concentrations more quickly than older drinkers. Size and body weight also play a role. Big Uncle Fred may be able to toss back those shots of tequila and maintain an allegedly safe BAC but younger, smaller people may not be able to.

While a DWI conviction requires a BAC of 0.08% or above, any driver can be cited for "driving while impaired" by drugs or lower concentrations of alcohol.

Penalties

Before we even start, we should point out that if a law enforcement officer asks you to submit to a breath or blood test to determine the alcohol content of your blood, and if you refuse, your license will probably be taken away from you on the spot and suspended for six months. This is in addition to any suspension you might get later if you're convicted of DWI.

Below are the basic penalties for various DWI violations. However, in addition to these, DWI convictions carry an additional financially devastating penalty called conviction-based surcharges. This is an ongoing additional fine that must be paid each year for three years, and it can run you thousands of dollars. We discuss this program more fully in our article about the driver license point system.

Drivers 21 and Over

• First offense:

• Up to a $2,000 fine

• Possibly 72 hours to 180 days in jail

• Driver license suspension: 90 days to one year

• Second offense:

• Up to a $4,000 fine

• Thirty days to one year in jail

• Driver license suspension: 180 days to two years

• Third offense:

• Up to a $10,000 fine

• Two to 10 years behind bars

• Driver's license suspension: 180 days to two years

Drivers Under 21

The threshold for an alcohol-related driving conviction is lower for drivers under 21. If you're not of legal drinking age, then it's against the law to operate a vehicle with any measurable amount of alcohol in your blood (this is what "zero tolerance" refers to). If you're busted for driving after having had only one beer, here's what can happen to you the first time:

• Any measurable amount of alcohol:

• Sixty-day driver's license suspension

• Up to a $500 fine

• Twenty to 40 hours of community service

• Mandatory attendance in alcohol-awareness classes

• BAC of 0.08% or higher:

• If you're caught driving with a BAC of 0.08% or higher and you're under 21, you can count on the same DWI penalties as apply to those over 21 (see above), plus a conviction for underage drinking.

Driving With a Child

Driving drunk with a child passenger is considered a felony. If caught, your license will be immediately suspended.

Further Information

• Texas DWI Laws

• Texas Department of Transportation DWI Resources

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