Second DWI

Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a serious offense which can lead to severe penalties. However, if this is your second DWI you should expect Texas courts to be unforgiving. The courts tend to view first-time DWI charges as an uncharacteristic lapse of judgement made by ordinary responsible citizens. Offenders with multiple DWI convictions usually don’t get the same kind treatment.

If you have been charged with a second DWI, it’s imperative you gain legal representation. Texas has no “lookback period,” meaning any prior DWI conviction can be used to enhance your penalties. Even if the event happened decades ago. It’s important you’re prepared for what may happen next. Don’t agonize over this for another moment and contact an criminal defense attorney at Tyler Flood & Associates, Inc..

Attorneys for Second DWI Charges in Houston, Texas

If you’re charged with DWI and have a prior DWI conviction, then your charges will be reclassified to a higher-level offense. You’ll face a class A misdemeanor which can result in a lengthy jail term. To avoid this, it’s highly recommended you contact an experienced attorney.

The attorneys at Tyler Flood & Associates, Inc. have years of experience with DWI law. We are passionate about defending our client’s rights. Our attorneys will guide you every step of the way through the legal process. Let us help you move on from this nightmare. Contact the Tyler Flood & Associates, Inc. at (713) 224-5529 to schedule a case evaluation. We defend clients throughout the greater Houston area including Tomball, Pasadena, Bellaire and Uptown.

Overview of Second DWI Charges in Texas


What is an DWI in Texas?

Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a serious traffic offense found under Texas Penal Code § 49.04. The prosecution must prove you did the following to obtain a DWI conviction:

  • You were driving a motor vehicle on public roads; and
  • You had a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher OR your physical and mental faculties were impaired due to drugs or alcohol

The majority of police officers will use BAC to determine if you’re impaired. Law enforcement will use chemical testing to measure the amount of alcohol in your system. These tests include breath analysis, blood analysis, and urinalysis.

Texas Penal Code § 49.01 measures alcohol concentration by number of grams of alcohol per:

  • 100 milliliters of blood;
  • 210 liters of breath; or
  • 67 milliliters of urine

The legal limits under Texas law are:

  • .08 BAC for a non-commercial driver at or over the age of 21;
  • .04 BAC for a commercial driver over at or over the age of 21; and
  • .02 BAC for a non-commercial driver under the age of 21

Blood-alcohol concentration can be tricky to measure accurately. The legal limit isn’t an accurate portrayal of impairment for everyone. BAC can be influenced by a variety of factors such as weight, metabolism or age. Some people barely feel the effects of alcohol at .08, while others may be extremely inebriated before they even reach the legal limit.

Law enforcement also use field sobriety testing to assess your impairment level. These are a series of physical exercises which test your mental and physical faculties. You may see a multitude of field sobriety tests online, but only three have been standardized by the National Highway Safety and Traffic Administration (NHTSA).

Field sobriety testing is also flawed in many ways. The tests are universal and don’t consider a person’s age or physical ability. They also can be influenced by external factors including weather, the time of day or even the lighting. Because of this, the results from field sobriety testing could be misleading.


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Second DWI Penalties in Texas

Texas determines DWI penalties by your criminal history and the circumstance of the crime. People with multiple DWI convictions should expect harsher penalties. A second DWI is a class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by:

  • A possible fine of up to $4,000;
  • Up to 200 hours of community service;
  • Completion of a 12-hour DWI Course;
  • License suspension for up to two years;
  • Community supervision for up to 12 months;
  • Annual surcharge by DPS for three years of up to $2,000
  • Installation of an ignition interlock device; and
  • Minimum of 27 hours in jail and a maximum of 12 months in jail

The crime will be reclassified as a state jail felony if you drove intoxicated with a child passenger. A state jail felony is punishable by:

  • Up to 24 months in state jail; and
  • A possible fine of up to $10,000

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Ignition Interlock Devices for DWI

If you’re convicted of a second DWI, then it’s likely the judge will court-order you to install an ignition interlock device. You will also be required to pay the full cost of the installation. An ignition interlock device (IID) functions similarly to a breathalyzer, but it’s connected to your vehicle’s engine. The device will require you to measure your BAC if you want to turn on your motor vehicle.

The purpose of an ignition interlock device is to deter you from driving intoxicated again. If you blow into the device at or above .08, then the vehicle will be locked from use. Usually, the device will log the event internally to send it to law enforcement. The instrument also prevents other people from blowing for you with a “rolling re-test.”

A rolling-retest is when your IID will signal you for random re-testing while driving. If alcohol is detected the device will not turn off while the car is moving. Instead it will signal you by blowing the horn and flashing the headlights excessively.


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Additional Resources

DWI Laws in Texas – Visit the official website of the Texas Penal Code to learn more about driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenses. Access the statute to learn the charge specifics, penalties and possible enhancements for DWI.

Alcohol-Related Offenses – Visit the official website of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to learn more about alcohol-related offenses. Access the site to learn how DWI law applies to minors, consequences for commercial drivers and how to reinstate your license after an alcohol-related offense.


Lawyer for 2nd DWI in Harris County, Texas

If you or someone you know has been charged with a second DWI, it’s crucial you act now. You’re going to need quality legal representation to fight these charges. A conviction could land you with expensive fines, community service, an IID and even jail time.

Call the attorneys at Tyler Flood & Associates, Inc. now for a strong DWI defense. We strive to assist our clients through efficient and formidable legal service. Contact us at (713) 224-5529 to start the first steps of your defense today. Tyler Flood & Associates, Inc. accepts clients throughout the greater Harris County are including River Oaks, Pasadena, Bellaire and Houston.


This article was last updated on March 7th, 2019.

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Driving While Intoxicated (Blood Draw .16)
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CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

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Robert Henderson
Robert Henderson
December 22, 2023.
I want to give a special thanks to Tyler Flood & Associates. Getting charged with a dwi was the worst feeling and situation I've been in, but the professionalism and confidence that Tyler Fllod & Associates showed throughout my case definitely helped me get some sleep at night. Then when they called and let me know that my case was dismissed and all charges dropped was incredible. Once again, thanks to Tyler Flood & Associates.
Zeta Ze
Zeta Ze
December 15, 2023.
Houston DWI/DUI Tyler Flood is the best lawyer to represent you in a DWI/DUI case. Mr. Flood saved my license from being suspended in a non-refusal weekend. In a case, where I feel I did everything wrong and had 0 chance, in my opinion, for a dismissal, my only hope and chance was to hire Mr. Flood and his firm. Having had previous experience with Mr. Flood's firm, I felt that if I had any percentage chance of a dismissal, I had to go with Mr. Flood again. As I am writing this review, I'm still in shock and awe in how Mr. Flood was able to get a dismissal before trial completely started. Mr. Flood knew the law better than the arresting officer and Prosecutors. Even the judge was impressed and paid him a compliment after the dismissal. In my opinion, if you want a fighting chance, hire Mr. Flood and his firm. Mr. Flood genuinely cares about all his clients and does not merely see you as a customer. He and his team are always working on your case. Trust his process. They are absolutely the BEST.
briana Munoz
briana Munoz
December 5, 2023.
Thanks to Tyler Flood I am able to continue my life, him and his partners were amazing in guiding me throughout this hard process. Tyler and his team got me a CASE DISMISSED on my DWI case. His team kept in contact with me on every small detail about my case while being able to thoroughly explain every possibility for me. I also never had to step foot in a courtroom! Him and his team had my back every step of the way and never made me feel like it was not going to be okay. Tyler flood is the BEST DWI/DUI attorney no doubt, please consider letting him take your case if you are ever in need of an amazing lawyer.
A D
A D
October 19, 2023.
When I found myself in a precarious situation and didn’t know where or who to turn to I was recommended to Tyler Flood and Associates. After researching and reading many reviews I decided to hire and retain Flood and Associates services. This was one of the best decisions I made in my life, not only were they there for me in every dim moment and never too busy to answer every question I had whether it was frivolous or not, his expertise was demonstrated to me during my trial. So much so that two other defendants asked for his name and number during my trial. He fought tooth-and-nail for me and he will for you too. I’m only rating him five stars because I can’t rate him any higher. I’ll thank him for the rest of my life.
Dylan
Dylan
October 12, 2023.
Houston DWI/DUI Attorney Tyler Flood is the best in the business! Tyler and his team made the entire process stress free for what is a very stressful situation. From winning the first administrative hearing (to retain my license/avoid a breathalyzer) to getting the dismissal before trial even started. He is truly the best in the business!
Cesar Ricardez
Cesar Ricardez
October 3, 2023.
I hired Tyler Flood the day after my DUI arrest after reading glowing reviews about him and I couldn’t be happier that I did so. He took care of both my cases to keep my driving rights and the misdemeanor DUI charge in court. I never even had to appear in court or do anything, him and his team took care of anything while I carried on with my life and would just get updates whenever they appeared in court on my behalf. At the end, my driver license was never suspended and they got my case dismissed. Lesson learned, I don’t wish anyone to get in my situation but if you do, don’t hesitate to hire Tyler Flood and his team, they are extremely professional and they go for the win. No deal, no probation, got it all dismissed.
M J
M J
September 14, 2023.
Tyler Flood, Houston DWI/DUI attorney is fantastic! He is professional, smart and takes pride in getting the best possible outcome for you. This was my second DWI and I didn't want to take chances. I found him on Google and I too was in disbelief with all the 5.0 star reviews. Upon meeting him I quickly discovered it was all true. A lawyer with his own science lab WTH??????? Long story short he got my case dismissed without going to court. You can not put a price on freedom. The only downside is I only hope to need his services this one time. 😀 Thanks again Mr. Flood God bless.
John Sellers
John Sellers
August 31, 2023.
Houston DUI/DWI attorney Tyler Flood is the guy to go to!! I started my journey with these guys on August 4th of this year, my case was dismissed before the end of the month!! Well worth it!! They are organized and efficient, kept me informed of what was going on and answered all my questions. I have shared with my friends and definitely recommend to anyone.
texasdiamonds
texasdiamonds
August 29, 2023.
Houston DUI/DWI attorney Tyler Flood is an outstanding attorney and person. If you are in need of a lawyer who understands the panic and sheer fear a family feels when this happens in their lives,Tyler Flood is the attorney for you. He has an outstanding educational background, his office includes an on-site, state-of-the-arts laboratory, and he is surrounded with a legal team to provide background and research data for him to be successful in representing you. He is a One-of-Kind, highly accomplished attorney that will promptly respond to you throughout the duration of your case. Seriously, this guy NEVER sleeps! Tyler Flood understands the importance of a person’s reputation and the seriousness of a DUI/DWI charge. If you choose to work with him, he will work with you to be successful! Tyler Flood is AWESOME!
Trey Perrett
Trey Perrett
August 14, 2023.
Words cannot express what a dominating lawyer Tyler Flood and his team are. I ran into some trouble in 2021 and I was just getting my family, career ,and life together. I was completely scared of what the repercussions could be for the rest of my life. I asked civil layers who they recommend and repeatedly Tyler Flood’s name was given to me. At my first appointment, I was overcome with anxiety of what will happen next. Tyler put me at ease immediately. He believed I had a case. They were great on response time and helping me navigate the often confusing legal system. It’s a long process to have a case brought to trial but I knew I had an amazing lawyer and his team in my corner. Finally, I received the call that my case was dismissed, and I was cleared of all charges. I could not be happier with the way he and his colleagues handled my case and brought home the W. I strongly recommend having Tyler Flood in your corner because he delivers.
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