SOURCESNational Safety Council, “Texas Employer Traffic Safety Program”http://www.nsc.org/safety_road/Employer%20Traffic%20Safety/Pages/TexasImpairedDriving.aspxFoundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, “Texas State Facts”http://responsibility.org/state-facts/texasDepartment of Motor Vehicles, “DUI & DWI in Texas”http://www.dmv.org/tx-texas/automotive-law/dui.phpJoseph LaBella websitehttp://www.texas-dwi-lawyers.com/ powered by
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YOU CAN FIGHT YOUR DUI CONVICTION. Contact an experienced DUI attorney in Houston today at
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Joseph Labella & AssociatesJL
KNOWING YOUR RIGHTS
AFTER A DUIA N I N F O G R A P H I C
Joseph Labella & AssociatesJL
PRESENTED BY:
T e x a s D r u n k D r i v i n g L a w s a n d S t a t i s t i c s
THE LEGALBLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT(BAC) limit in Texas is .08%
85,436 DUI(driving under the influence)
ARRESTS were made in Texas in 2012
THOUSANDS OF DRIVERSwere arrested while UNDER the legal
BAC limit
Police often useROADSIDE SOBRIETY CHECKSto arrest suspected drunk drivers
WITHOUT STATISTICAL DATATexas’
“IMPLIED CONSENT” LAWSallow police officers to
SUSPEND YOUR LICENSEfor up to two years upon refusal to take
a breathalyzer or blood test - regardless of whether or not you’ve had a drop of alcohol or not
0.08
MOST TEXANS ACCUSED OF DRUNK DRIVING
ARE NOT AWARE OF THEIR RIGHTS!
W h a t H a p p e n s i f Y o u A r e C o n v i c t e d o f a D U I i n T e x a s ?
DRIVER LICENSETEXAS
FIRST-TIMEOFFENDERS
Arrest & jail time between3 days and 180 days
Up to a $2,000 fine(not counting bail andcourt fees)
License suspensionup to two years
Annual insurancecharges up to $2,000 for 3 years(just to keep your license)
DUI intervention &education programs
Possible ignition interlockdevice on your vehicle(out of your wallet)
SECOND-TIMEOFFENDERS
Arrest & jail timebetween one monthand a year
Up to a $4,000 fine(not counting bail andcourt fees)
License suspensionup to two years
Annual insurancecharges up to $2,000 for 3 years(just to keep your license)
DUI intervention &education programs
Possible ignition interlockdevice on your vehicle(out of your wallet)
THIRD-TIMEOFFENDERS
Up to a $10,000 fine(not counting bail andcourt fees)
Arrest & jail timebetween 2 years andten years
License suspensionup to two years
Annual insurancecharges up to $2,000 for 3 years(just to keep your license)
DUI intervention &education programs
Possible ignition interlockdevice on your vehicle(out of your wallet)
COMMERCIAL DRIVERScan expect DUI arrests with a BAC content of just .04
– half the legal limit for drivers of passenger vehicles.
W h a t A r e C o m m o n M i s t a k e s P o l i c e M a k e ?
Police must have PROBABLE CAUSE
to arrest a driver for a DUI offensePROBABLE CAUSE
POLICE OFFICERS CANNOT:
n. sufficient reason based upon known facts to believe a crime has been committed or that certain property is connected with a crime.
STOPa vehicle based on an
anonymous 911 call withno prior observations
FOLLOWa driver to his or
her house withoutpermission orprobable cause
DETAINa driver for longer than necessary
or based on a vehicle driving too slow or fast (without proof),weaving within the boundaries of a single lane, or simply based on a “hunch”
Stop a vehicle at an
IMPROPERROADBLOCK
ARRESTon driver statements alone
Base an
TAKE SHORTCUTSnot in accordance with Texas Breath Testing Regulations or their very own DUI training
W h y S h o u l d I H i r e a H o u s t o n D U I L a w y e r ?
A Houston drunk driving defense lawyeris familiar with
TEXAS COURT SYSTEMS DRUNK DRIVING LAWS
PERSONAL INTERESTS FINANCIAL INTERESTS
PROTECTING YOUR
A lawyer may be able to negotiate
A PLEA BARGAINon your behalf.
PLEA BARGAINn. The process whereby a criminal defendant and prosecutor reach amutually satisfactory disposition of a criminal case, subject to court approval.You may even end up
PAYING LESSfor the incident, RETAIN YOUR
RIGHT TO DRIVE,avoid costly insurance surcharges and other fees,or even see your
CHARGES REDUCED
DROPPED ENTIRELYor