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# Driving With Suspended License In Texas
Driving with a suspended driver’s license in Texas can lead to penalties. However, these penalties are determined by the circumstances of your .  A license suspension may be as a result of you refusing to take a chemical test or because you were convicted of a DWI.  Since driving while your license is suspended  is a misdemeanor, you may face the following penalties:
* + Fines between $100 and $500
  + 3 days to a 180-day jail sentence
These punishments can be probated.  You may face harsher punishments if it’s your second time getting caught driving with a suspended license.
### Why Your Driver’s License May Be Suspended
Contents
Apart from a  or conviction, there are many other reasons for suspension or revocation of your license. These include:
* A convicting for racing on a highway
* When you are arrested for using a fake ID or letting someone use your ID
* Being convicted of vehicular homicide
* Refusing an alcohol test when you are pulled over by an officer
* Driving without car insurance
* Failure to pay traffic tickets
There are many other reasons why your license may be suspended.
### What To Do If Your License Is Suspended
People whose  can apply for an occupational driver’s license (ODL).   An ODL is also referred to as an essential need license, which basically means that it is a restricted license.  To get it, you must petition the Justice of Peace, the court of original jurisdiction where you did the offense or the district or county court where you live.
The court will review your petition and issue a signed court order if you are eligible for ODL.  The order is not an ODL. You have to submit the order to the Department with other required documentation and then you will receive the occupational driver’s license.
### What Is Are The Limitations Of An Occupational Driver’s License?
Unlike a normal driver’s license, an ODL is only meant to help you do basic things like:
* Driving to and from work
* Taking your children to and from school
* Going to a religious service
* Traveling to the grocery store
* Going to a medical facility for treatment
This means that you cannot use your ODL to go for a road trip or travel to other events that are not viewed as necessary.  Another restriction that comes with an ODL is you have to install an alcohol interlock device on your vehicle.  All these restrictions can greatly impact the quality of your life.
So, talk to an experienced DWI attorney to fight aggressively to get your license back.
### How Does Driving With A Suspended License Affect Insurance?
People with suspended licenses already face higher monthly insurance payments because they are considered high-risk drivers.  Getting arrested for driving with a suspended license will appear in your records, which means your insurer will be able to access that information.
This means that your insurance rates may increase significantly after being convicted of a traffic crime.  Sometimes your insurer may not renew your auto insurance.  Finding an insurer willing to insure you will be difficult too.
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Comments for Attorney Joe Cannon
DUI/DWI Defense Spring TX
Mon, 17 Jun 2024 20:01:33 +0000
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# Houston DWI Lawyer
## DWI Attorney in Houston TX
    - 
It can be devastating to be charged with a DUI or DWI. It can feel as though all the things you have spent your life working towards are in jeopardy. You may feel alone, unsure of where to turn. We understand how you feel, and we may be able to help.
Attorney Joe Cannon understands how serious the consequences of a DWI conviction can be, and we know that you understand the gravity of the charges. We are not here to scare you. We are here to fight to defend your rights and help you overcome the case against you. To discuss the circumstances of your case in more detail with one of our experienced, tenacious Houston DWI defense attorneys, please contact us today by calling 713-347-9179.
If you or a loved one has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you may be unfamiliar with the legal process and what steps to take to defend yourself against the charges. A DWI conviction can have a serious effect on your livelihood and may include incarceration, fines, and loss of driving privileges.
### What are the DWI penalties?
The penalties for DWI intensify depending on the number of prior DWI convictions.
* For your first DWI offense, a Class B Misdemeanor, you may receive a fine of up to $2000 and/or jail time for 3 to 180 days and a driver’s license suspension for 90 to 365 days.
* For a second offense, a Class A Misdemeanor, you may receive a fine of up to $4000 and/or jail time for 30 days to one year and a driver’s license suspension for 180 days to two years.
* For a third offense, which is a 3rd Degree Felony, you may receive a fine of up to $10,000 and/or jail time for two to ten years, and a driver’s license suspension for 180 days to two years.
### What do BAC and 0.08 mean?
BAC stands for Blood Alcohol Concentration, and it is the percentage of alcohol present in 100 milligrams of blood, 210 liters of breath, or 67 milliliters of urine. You are considered legally intoxicated if your alcohol concentration equals 0.08 or more.
### Can I refuse a field sobriety test? If so, should I?
Yes, you can and should always refuse to take a field sobriety test. Field sobriety tests are proven inaccurate at determining if alcohol concentration exceeds 0.08, even under ideal laboratory conditions. There are no penalties for declining these tests, but the officer may still arrest for DWI if he believes he has probable cause. Moreover, the police officer may consider your refusal as an admission of guilt.
### Can a police officer force me to take a breathalyzer, urine test, or blood test?
A police officer can only force you to take a breathalyzer, urine test, or blood test if the four following requirements are met:
* there is a DWI arrest and an accident;
* the officer has a reasonable belief that any individual has died or will die as a result of the accident;
* an individual, other than the person arrested, has suffered serious bodily injury; and
* the individual arrested for DWI refused to give a specimen voluntarily
### What constitutes intoxication?
The Texas Legislature defines intoxication in two ways:
* not having the normal use of your mental or physical faculties by reason of the introduction of alcohol or drugs (legal or illegal) into your body; or
* having an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more.
The prosecutor must prove only one of these definitions to obtain a guilty ruling in a DWI trial.
### What is DWI?
Driving while Intoxicated (DWI), as defined by the Texas Legislature, is the criminal offense of driving a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated.
### Driving Under the Influence (Houston DUI) in Texas
#### DUI and DWI, Two Different Charges
Often when someone is charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), he or she thinks the charge is **Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in Texas**. In many states, DUI and DWI are the same, but in Texas, DUI and DWI, are two different charges.
The differences between DUI and DWI greatly outnumber the similarities.
* DUI pertains solely to minors, individuals under the age of 21
* Alcohol must only be detected in your system — BAC is of no consequence
* Arrest for DUI is at the officer’s discretion
* DUI charges can coincide with DWI charges — if over the age of 17
### Will I have to go to jail?
If this is your first DWI charge or you were able to convince the State to dismiss your case or get a not guilty judgment after a trial by judge or jury, you will not go to jail. Even if you are convicted, you can usually get probation, unless you choose to serve jail time instead of attempting to comply with the terms of a lengthy DWI probation. But your chances of jail time increase, if you have prior DWI convictions.
### How We Can Help
Our experienced **Houston DWI lawyers** have dedicated their careers to helping people who have been charged with DUI or DWI. With decades of combined professional experience to put at your disposal, we may be able to help you if your case involves:
* Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)
* Drunk Driving
* Intoxication Assault
* Driving While Intoxicated by Drugs (DWID)
* Public Intoxication (PI)
If you or someone you love has been charged with these or other alcohol-related crimes, we may be able to help. The legal system of the United States recognizes that people are innocent until proven guilty. Let us help you defend your rights.
### Contact Us
The consequences of a  can be serious, and your best chance at overcoming the charges against you or securing a lesser punishment could be engaging the services of an experienced, compassionate Houston DWI attorney. To learn more about what we may be able to do for you, please contact  today by calling 713-347-9179.
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# Practice Areas
Most mistakes made in the criminal justice system are irreversible. When you are under criminal investigation or arrest, until you have spoken with a defense attorney, it is vital that you refuse to answer questions during interrogation. A defense lawyer can help you understand your rights and be at your side to advise you when you are being questioned by police, detectives, or other authorities.
The criminal defense lawyers at the Spring TX law firm of  represent clients in state and federal criminal cases. Misdemeanors and felonies both carry penalties that put your life in jeopardy. Jail time or imprisonment can result in job loss, damage to your reputation, and denied employment opportunities, not to mention the devastating effect on family and friends.
Even though you are innocent until proven guilty, obtaining a criminal defense lawyer at the outset of your case can make a considerable difference in the outcome.
While our firm handles a variety of criminal charges, we frequently litigate certain types of cases:
### DWI/DUI
If you are under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs, your mental and physical ability to drive may be impaired. When police suspect a DWI offense, they will stop the driver and request that he or she perform field sobriety tests and/or take a Breathalyzer test. Our attorneys generally recommend that you refuse field sobriety and Breathalyzer tests because DWI cases frequently are more difficult to defend when tests have been taken.
Even though refusal results in immediate driver’s license suspension, penalties incurred for a DWI conviction are much stiffer. Politely informing the police officer that you need to consult with your lawyer before submitting to any tests is your legal right. MORE: 
### Traffic Violations
Traffic tickets are costly and often cause insurance premiums to increase, resulting in considerable long-term expense. Retaining a Texas traffic-ticket defense lawyer to help you fight a traffic ticket may result in dropped or reduced charges.
### Drug Crimes
Depending on the quantity and type of drug, drug offenses can be misdemeanor or felony charges. Certain drug offenses fall under state jurisdiction, and others are tried in federal courts. Drug cases often involve the following types of drug activity:
* possession
* paraphernalia possession
* cultivation/manufacture
* sale or intent to sell
* distribution
* trafficking
Joe Cannon also provides criminal defense for clients accused of theft and for underage individuals in juvenile delinquency cases. The above are just a sampling of the cases our attorneys regularly handle. If you are facing criminal charges of any kind, we encourage you to arrange a free consultation to learn how we can help. An experienced criminal defense lawyer with a successful track record of winning cases is invaluable for the outcome of your case. Our law firm serves clients throughout Harris County, including Spring and The Woodlands.