Texas Statutes on Driving Under the Influence
If you have a breath alcohol content of .08 percent or more, you are considered to be driving while impaired in Texas. Punishments for driving under the influence are laid out in Chapter 49 of the Texas penal code. Penalties increase for each successive DUI conviction and may include fines, loss of your driver's license and a jail sentence.
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First Offense
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Conviction of a first DUI carries a fine of up to $500. People convicted of driving while impaired may spend between three and 180 days in jail, pay a of fine of up to $500 and lose their license for up to a year (as of 2011).
Second Offense
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You may lose driving privileges for up to two years following a second DUI conviction. A second offense results in suspension of a driver's license for up to two years, 30 days to two years in jail and a fine of up to $4,000.
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Third Offense
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A third DUI conviction leads to a prison sentence. People found guilty of a third DUI will lose their driver's license for up to two years, spend up to 10 years in a penitentiary and be fined up to $10,000.
Penalties for Minors
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There are penalties for people under the age of 21 caught drinking and driving even if their blood alcohol reading is under .08. The sentence includes loss of their license for up to 60 days, fines of up to $500, up to 40 hours of community service and completion of a course on alcohol awareness. People over the age of 16 and convicted of impaired driving face a fine of up to $,2000, three to 180 days in jail and a driver's license suspension of up to one year.
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