Texas Police Officer Arrested on DWI Charges
Earlier this month, a Texas police officer was arrested on DWI charges. The man was a 29-year-old off-duty Arlington police officer. According to NBCDFW’s Daily Police Blotter, the man was stopped for DWI after the police received a call from a citizen who reported that a man was driving erratically Collins Street. The man wound up being taken to Arlington City Jail by the police and being charged with DWI.
The police officer was placed on routine administrative leave, and the Arlington police stated that they would be conducting a criminal investigation as well as an internal inquiry.
Texas DWI Penalties
The penalties for a Texas DWI include:
- First Offense. This is a Class B misdemeanor and includes a fine not to exceed $2,000. It may also include the possibility of serving jail time from 3 days to 180 days, and a driver’s license suspension of 90 to 365 days.
- Second Offense. A Class A misdemeanor, this conviction includes a fine not to exceed $4,000 as well as the possibility of 3 to 365 days of jail imprisonment, and a driver’s license suspension of 180 days to 2 years.
- A third offense is a 3rd Degree Felony, and the conviction includes a fine not to exceed $10,000 and/or 2-10 years of imprisonment. The person’s driver’s license may be suspended between 180 days and 2 years.
- First offense for a DWI with an open alcohol container: Penalty referenced above, plus a minimum of 6 days in jail. Fine not to exceed $2,000.
- Intoxication Assault (3rd Degree Felony) – DWI with an accident where serious bodily injury occurred as a proximate cause of the intoxication: Person may serve a minimum of 2 years up to a maximum of 10 years in jail, upon conviction. There may also be a fine not to exceed $10,000.
- Intoxication Manslaughter (2nd Degree Felony) – DWI where a death has occurred as a proximate cause of the intoxication: Fine not to exceed $10,000 and/or 2 to 20 years of imprisonment, upon conviction.
Read more about Texas DWI Penalties.
Cops and DWIs
Here’s something to think about: DWI cops in Texas can make just as much money — or more! — arresting people for DWI than they make on their “regular” patrol. Often, whether a police officer is in the DWI unit depends on how many DWI arrests they have made. Arresting people for DWI can fatten their wallet.
Hire a DWI Attorney
If you’ve been arrested for DWI, hire the best DWI attorney: Jamie “The DWI Dude” Balagia. Handling Austin DWI and San Antonio DWI cases, The DWI Dude is always ready to take it to trial for the win!
Tags: driving while intoxicated, DWI, dwi driving, Texas DWI
