Driving while intoxicated is a crime within the state of Texas that has many possible penalties. These penalties vary based on individual circumstances, whether or not anyone was harmed, and how many DWIs a defendant has been convicted of before. If you are convicted of operating a motor vehicle in a public place in Austin while intoxicated, you will face one of the following penalties.

Penalties for a First Time Offender

An offender who has never been convicted of a DWI before may face any combination of the following penalties.

  • A fine lower than $2,000
  • Jail time for 72 hours to six months
  • Community service between 24 and 100 hours
  • Potentially required to go to addiction treatment, install a deep lung air device on a car, or pay restitution for damages.

Penalties for a Second Time Offender

An offender who has been convicted of a DWI once before may face any combination of the following penalties.

  • A fine lower than $4,000
  • Jail time for 72 hours to one year
  • Community serv ice between 80 and 200 hours
  • A deep air lung device must be installed on a car during probation.
  • License suspension for between 180 days and 2 years.

Penalties for a Third Time Offender

A third time or higher offender is charged with a third-degree felony and may face any combination of the following penalties.

  • A fine lower than $10,000
  • Jail time for 2 to 10 years
  • Community serv ice between 160 to 600 hours
  • A deep air lung device must be installed on a car during probation.
  • License suspension for between 180 days and 2 years.

Penalties if Someone Is Harmed

Regardless of the number of DWIs you have had before, you will face more severe penalties if anyone is harmed while you were driving and intoxicated. Any sort of injury that impairs bodily function of a person will result in the same penalties as a third offense DWI. If someone dies as a result of a person operating a vehicle while intoxicated, the penalties are much more severe.

  • A fine below S10,000
  • Jail time for 2 to 20 years.
  • Community service for 250 to 800 hours

If you are charged with a DWI in Austin, a talented lawyer can help you to avoid being convicted or at least get one of the significantly lighter sentences. Call your lawyer today for more information about how DWI penalties may affect you.