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Texas 1st DUI Offense
First Texas Drunk Driving Offense
- Classification: Class B Misdemeanor
- Fine: Up to $2,000
- Fine: Up to $10,000 (Child Under15 in Car)
- Driver’s License Suspension: 90 – 365 Days Possible
- Ignition Interlock Device Possible
- Court may probate jail time, on first offense only
- County Jail Time: 72 Hours
- County Jail Time 180 Days - 2 Years (Child Under15 in Car)
- Conviction-based DWI Surcharge: $1,000 For 3 Years
- Conviction-based DWI Surcharge $2,000 if BAC > 0.16
Penalties for a First Texas DUI Offense
For your First Offense Texas DWI, a Class B Misdemeanor, you will face mandatory county jail time of at least 72 hours and as much as 180 days; a fine of up to $2,000; and a minimum driver’s license suspension of at least 90 days and up to 365 days. If you drive DWI with passengers under age 15, the range of county jail time rises to 180 days to two years, and the fine can go up to $10,000.
Supervised probation (called “community supervision”) is possible with a Texas first offense DWI. You must perform 24 to 100 hours of community service, attend and complete DWI classes, attend a MADD victim impact panel, participate in a drug/alcohol evaluation and recommended follow-up, maintain a job, and report to a probation officer.
On a first offense only, the court may waive the driver’s license suspension.
The state may also require installation of an ignition interlock device (a device that prevents you from driving with alcohol in your system) on your automobile, if your suspension is waived by the court, you get a restricted license for essential needs, or when your license is reinstated.
The Texas Driver Responsibility law also assesses administrative fees, called Conviction Based Surcharges, that drivers convicted of Texas DWI must pay to the state. For a first offense DWI, the surcharge is $1,000 (or $2,000, if your BAC was 0.16 or more).
