Reader’s Question:

I know in my state, there is a different penalty for a DWI arrest with a child inside the car. Is this kind of DWI offense more serious than the DWI arrest that caused harm to someone in Texas?

William

Houston, TX

Thanks for asking William. The state of Texas has enacted a variety of different laws and regulations that are each designed to help eliminate the increasing number of DWI accidents, injuries, and fatalities occurring within the state by making it less appealing for underage individuals to purchase alcohol, less appealing for people over the age of 21 to sell alcohol to underage individuals, and less appealing for individuals to drive while intoxicated.

DWI is always considered to be a serious and major offense, but driving with a child in the car while intoxicated is considered to be a much more serious offense. If an individual is pulled over and had DWI arrest and there was a child under the age of 15 present in the car, the driver will be arrested for felony DWI. An individual convicted of felony DWI will receive a minimum of 180 days in jail to a maximum of two years in jail and may be imposed with up to a $10,000 fine. It is also important to keep in mind that the individual may be charged with other crimes related to the well-being and safety of the child in the car depending on the specific situation.

Even though the act of DWI with a child present in the car is considered to be an extremely serious offense, it is not the most serious alcohol-related offense for which an individual can be charged. If an individual is involved in a motor accident in which someone was seriously injured or harmed and it is determined that the individual was driving while intoxicated, the individual will be arrested for DWI and for intoxication assault.