If a police officer pulls a driver over for a traffic violation and spots an open container of beer next to said driver, the odds are pretty good the officer will also issue a citation for an open container violation. Texas law is pretty clear on this point. A person commits a Class C misdemeanor–essentially […]
Intoxication manslaughter is the legal term used in Texas to describe a death caused by a drunk driver. Most of the time, we tend to associate drunk driving with motor vehicles, such as cars or trucks. But a DWI accident can involve the operation of many other types of vehicles, including boats and amusement rides. […]
While some people consider using a fake ID to get into a bar or purchase alcohol a “rite of passage,” it is still a crime under Texas law. Attempting to circumvent underage drinking laws by pretending to be over the age of 21 is not just dumb–it can lead to serious criminal charges that can […]
Today’s post is a follow-up regarding the arrest of Texas state Rep. Naomi Gonzalez for driving while intoxicated. The 34-year-old lawmaker recently apologized to her peers on the floor of the Texas house. Gonzalez stated that she made a mistake, asked for understanding, and pledged that nothing similar would ever happen again. Her peers responded […]
Responsible driving for some means not having anything to drink before driving. For others, it may mean pacing their drinking so that blood alcohol levels remain well below the legal limit. If a driver is stopped on suspicion of drunk driver, an officer may ask a series of questions about the driver’s destination, drinking consumption […]
Last summer, two vacationing Texas boys were killed by a drunk driver who drove his pickup truck over their tent in a North Dakota campground. Recently, the surviving parents spoke out, urging the state’s lawmakers to pass tougher laws against driving while intoxicated. The parents’ visit coincided with the state’s Law Enforcement Day, a day […]
A recent ruling in an out-of-state DWI case may have national implications, possibly affecting the way local authorities use breathalyzer testing in Texas. The judge’s ruling determined that breathalyzer machines weren’t accurate in gauging blood-alcohol content higher than 0.15 percent. In that jurisdiction, penalties are more severe for higher driver BAC levels. Consequently, breathalyzer evidence […]
Texas readers might be surprised by a recent compilation of DWI statistics. Based on data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, a researcher allocated DWI accidents between 2001 and 2010 by state. According to that compilation, certain areas of Texas ranks among the highest in the nation in frequency of DWI collisions. Indeed, a significant […]