Civil Consequences of a DWI Conviction

When you’re charged with a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated), it’s not just the potential criminal penalties that should warrant your concern. A DWI conviction carries with it a slew of civil consequences that can reshape your life in unexpected and challenging ways. A DWI conviction can be more than a blot on your record. A conviction for drunk driving could mean a seismic shift in your daily life.

The Immediate Impact: License Suspension

Under the Texas Transportation Code, a DWI conviction almost invariably results in the suspension of your driver’s license.

How long?

The length of license suspension could range from 90 days to two years for a first-time offense. Without the privilege of driving, your daily life could unravel fast. Just imagine the hurdles of commuting to work, picking up your kids, or even running a simple errand.

To make matters worse, if you decide to drive anyway and get stopped, it’s an immediate trip to jail. This would mean a new criminal charge of either driving while licensed suspended or driving while license invalid.

Texas Transportation Code § 521.341

Employment Jeopardy

In this competitive job market, a DWI conviction can weigh down your employment prospects. Some employers, bound by policy or swayed by perception, might view a conviction for drunk driving as a significant mark against your character. This could mean termination for persons who work for businesses that regularly conduct background checks on their employees.

There’s also the real potential that a conviction could cost you professional licenses or certifications. In essence, rendering your years of education and experience effectively null.

Family Court Concerns

Custody & Visitation

A conviction for Driving While Intoxicated could also become Exhibit A in a family court setting. If you’re in a child custody or visitation dispute, expect the opposing counsel to bring up your DWI.

Under the Texas Family Code § 153.004, a court can consider a parent’s criminal history when determining the best interests of the child.

Financial Fallout

Fines & More

You’re likely bracing for fines – that’s a given. But a DWI conviction in Texas unleashes a cascade of financial burdens that extend far beyond court-imposed penalties.

Consider the surcharges you’ll have to pay when you renew your Texas Driver License. In addition to that, you’ll also have to contend with skyrocketing auto insurance premiums. Higher premiums can persist for years after your conviction.

Housing Hurdles

Landlords, like employers, often run background checks on new tenant applicants. The nicer or more affluent the neighborhood, the more likely they are to conduct background checks.

A DWI conviction might make them think twice before approving your application for rental/lease. It’s not that they can’t empathize with you. Everyone needs somewhere to live. These people have a business to run and to protect. From this perspective, they often view applicants with DWI and other criminal convictions as a risk. Far too often this is a risk they aren’t willing to take.

Fighting for Your Rights

A Constitutional Matter

If you’re facing criminal charges for DWI, it’s not just a matter between you and the State of Texas. It’s a matter that’s tied to your constitutional rights.

The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects you from unreasonable searches and seizures. This principle is echoed in Article I, Section 9 of the Texas Constitution. Let’s not overlook your right to legal representation, as enshrined in the Sixth Amendment and Article 1, Section 10 of the Texas Constitution.

Take full advantage of your rights. It’s our job to help you do that.

The Right Legal Representation Makes a Difference

When fighting a DWI charge in Galveston County, fighting the criminal charge is one thing, protecting your future in another. That’s where we, Attorneys Tad Nelson & Amber Spurlock, can help you immensely.

Tad Nelson, licensed to practice law since 1991 and former Assistant Galveston County District Attorney (1991-1995), is not just any defense attorney. He’s Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and an ACS/CHAL Lawyer-Scientist.

These accolades aren’t just letters after a name—they signify a deep, scientifically-grounded understanding of the chemical testing procedures that often serve as the cornerstone of the prosecution’s DWI case.

Having this knowledge helps us win.

Attorney Amber Spurlock stands alongside Mr. Nelson as an equally dedicated criminal defense lawyer. As an ACS/CHAL Lawyer-Scientist, she brings critical, science-based scrutiny to every case. This gives her the unique ability to challenge the evidence on its merits during the fight for justice.