If a Texas police officer determines that you are driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you will likely be taken into custody. Furthermore, your car will be towed into an impound lot. A number of other penalties may apply if you are actually convicted of the charge.
The charge may be a misdemeanor or a felony
Generally speaking, a DUI charge is classified as a misdemeanor. However, if you have been convicted of the offense in the past, you may be charged with a felony. The same may be true if there are aggravating factors in your case such as an extremely high blood alcohol content or if you were driving with minors in your vehicle.
Implied consent laws
You may also face penalties if you fail to submit to a chemical test in accordance with the state’s implied consent law. Failing to submit to a chemical test will result in an automatic suspension of your driving privileges. This is true even if you are eventually cleared of the DUI charge. However, it may be possible to apply for a hardship license that allows you to travel to work, alcohol education classes or other specific destinations. Furthermore, the fact that you failed to take a chemical test will be used as evidence against you in your DUI case.
If you are convicted of drunk or impaired driving, you may have to spend time in jail, pay a fine or lose your driver’s license. It may be possible to cast doubt by asserting that there were flaws in the way evidence was collected or that there was no basis for the traffic stop that eventually led to the DUI charge.