FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

Having a DWI conviction on your record is a serious issue for any college or university, and we don't want your higher education and professional future to be ruined because of a DWI charge.

A criminal arrest will often have school disciplinary sanctions. You may be placed on academic probation, the school may ask you to take a semester off or not to come back, and/ or they may ask you to be involved in counseling for alcohol abuse. If you are under 21, a DWI will have serious effects on whether or not you can have a driver's license and the State will require you to have an ignition interlock installed in your car. An ignition interlock is a device that you must blow into that detects any alcohol in your system, and if you have been drinking your car will not start.

The law in Texas is rather strict concerning DUI's and DWI's:

First Offense
    -up to a $2,000 fine
    -72 hours to 180 days in jail
    -driver's license suspension: 90 days to 1 year

Second Offense
    -up to a $4,000 fine
    -30 days to 1 year in jail
    -driver's license suspension: 180 days to 2 years

Third Offense
    -up to a $10,000 fine
    -2 to 10 years in penitentiary
    -driver's license suspension: 180 days to 2 years

If you're thinking about not fighting your DWI charge and pleading guilty, here are a few reasons that might change your mind:



The average cost for pleading guilty is around $7,000 not including attorney's fees and how much the insurance company will charge you, which could be $1,000 or more for the next 3 years.


Academic Discipline
Any time you are arrested, the dean of students and the school disciplinary process is implicated and you are subject to academic discipline or academic probation or even requests for you not to return for the balance of the school year or the balance of the semester. The school does not necessarily find out about every arrest, but when they do make periodic checks, your arrest on something that has no relation to school can have an effect on your continuation of college. If you were accused of getting a DWI on or around the school campus, this invariably will be invoked, including but not limited to an arrest by the UT Police Department, the Austin Police Department, or an arrest by the APD on the UT campus.

Driver’s License Restrictions
The restrictions that occur either from refusing to blow or failing an intoxylizer test result in a dimunation of your driver’s license. While you will be able to obtain an occupational license with verification of your employment and class schedule, the bigger concern is that while you are in college, there are better things you should be doing than having to deal with a restricted driver’s license – implications on your social life and getting your other needs met having to operate for six months on a pretty rigid schedule. At the worst, 1/8 of your college career would be spent without the freedom of unrestricted driving.

Effect on Employment
Many employers will not hire someone who has a DWI conviction. Some companies look back a certain number of years for a criminal record. Also, a conviction may end your current employment. It is important not to mention you have been charged with a DWI to your employer until you have spoken with your attorney about the matter first. Know your rights and obligations before risking your job.

Effect on Travel
Some countries will bar your admission if you're an offender. Canada, for instance, will limit or bar admission into their country if a conviction is on your record. Foreign countries are more likely to ban admission completely if the offense is a felony. The attorneys at Sumpter and Gonzalez can help you with an application for limited admission, but the application process can take months to go through.

Embarrassment
If you were required to have an ignition interlock on your car because you were under 21 and had to plea to a DWI, it would be very difficult to use your car as a primary vehicle to go out on dates or take your friends out because every time you had to start your car you would need to blow into the machine just to get it running. It is also difficult having a probation officer and having to admit that you are on probation. Also, because of your youth, you are more likely for greater intervention for counseling and classes, etc.