According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), nearly 100,000 individuals were arrested on DUI charges in Texas in 2013. Also referred to as DWI, a charge of driving while intoxicated carries steep penalties. These consequences vary by state, but Texas law outlines that offenders face the possibility of jail time, heavy fines, and a suspension of their driving privileges.
In conjunction with National laws, a driver’s level of intoxication is established through a measurement of their blood alcohol content (BAC). By analyzing a breath, blood, or urine sample, law enforcement can record BAC levels. For most drivers over 21, a BAC above .08 is grounds for an arrest and charge for DUI, while commercial drivers can only have a BAC below .04 and drivers under 21 cannot have any detectable level of intoxication while behind the wheel.