Texas Gets Serious About DWI Enforcement -- Enacts "Extreme DWI" Rules
Texas is getting serious about drinking and driving. A new statewide "extreme DWI" law has been in affect since early Sept., and people have felt the effects of the increased penalties associated with a DWI conviction.

December 14, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Texas Gets Serious About DWI Enforcement -- Enacts "Extreme DWI" Rules

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Texas had close to 3,000 driving related deaths in 2009. Of these deaths, a whopping 47 percent of them involved alcohol. These statistics caused Texas authorities to sit down and determine a new method of deterring alcohol-influenced driving.

As reported by ABC, the result of legislative deliberation is a new "Extreme DWI" law that went into effect Sept. 1. This new law created severe penalties for DWI offenders -- even those convicted of their first offense -- and represents the statewide crackdown that legislator's felt was necessary to deter drunk driving.

Increased Penalties for Extreme DWI Offenders

Before the Extreme DWI law went into effect, any person who was operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.15 or higher could be convicted of a class B misdemeanor. However, this offense is now considered a class A misdemeanor -- a crime with much more severe penalties, including:
-Up to a $4,000 fine
-Up to a year in jail
-License revocation
-Alcohol counseling requirements or community service

The penalties, of course, vary depending upon the number of previous DWI convictions a person has, whether the person caused an accident, as well as whether the accused refused a chemical test to determine their BAC.

Charged with a DWI?

DWI cases are very complex and involve constitutional issues, probable cause and testing accuracy. The fervor with which Texas authorities are now enforcing DWI offenses-- in addition to the increased penalties for conviction -- it is extremely important for anyone charged with a DWI to protect their rights and speak with an experienced criminal defense lawyer immediately.

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