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REMEMBER YOU ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT

Don't Talk

Now Let's See Your Potential Jeopardy

FIRST - Your License is in Jeopardy.

Administrative License Suspensions (Often mistakenly called AUTOMATIC License Suspensions).   It is NOT automatic. You have a right to a hearing if you request one within 15 days. This “administrative” punishment for taking the test and rendering a test score over the state’s limit of .08 or for refusing to take the test is in addition to all the punishments that traditionally follow a DWI criminal conviction, such as license suspension, jail time, probation, community service hours, possible ignition interlock, alcohol and drug rehabilitation, etc. These ADMINISTRATIVE penalties are basically an immediate taking of the driver’s license, subject to your rights in the form of a hearing to try to get the immediate suspension set aside (rescinded, dismissed, etc.). This means that a DWI arrest triggers not only a CRIMINAL case, but also triggers and ADMINISTRATIVE case against the driver.

SECOND - Your Liberty is in Jeopardy

A conviction for a DWI requires a sentence of Mandatory Jail Time, even for a first offense.  1st offense = 3 days to 180 days in jail;  2nd offense = 30 days to 1 year in jail; 3rd or more convictions = FELONY 2-10 years in PRISON.

THIRD - Your Wallet/Purse is in Jeopardy

Fines - 1st offense maximum = $2,000; 2nd offense maximum = $4,000; 3rd or more offense maximum = $10,000.  

DPS driver's license YEARLY surcharges (for 3 years):

Driving While Intoxicated, Intoxication Assault, and Intoxication Manslaughter:


First time offense = $1,000


Second or subsequent offense = $1,500


DWI 0.16 or greater = $2,000


The surcharges are cumulative, meaning if a driver received two DWI offenses the total amount of surcharges to be paid would be $2,500 annually for three years
.