Source: https://www.mcconathylaw.com/dwi-process/drivers-license-procedures/
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 12:54:44+00:00

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If an individual has been charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI or commonly referred to as driving under the influence or DUI) in Dallas, they can face a criminal or civil driver’s license suspension, or both. If an individual is subsequently convicted of a DWI offense after refusing to submit to a chemical breath or blood test, they can receive both a criminal and civil license suspension.
If your license is suspended due to an administrative license suspension, it is important to hire a knowledgeable DWI attorney who will make every effort to prevent your license from being subject to a civil penalty license suspension at an administrative license suspension hearing.
If you have been charged with a DWI and your driver’s license was suspended in Dallas, or any of the surrounding areas in Texas, including Garland, Irving, Grand Prairie, Irving, Denton, Plano, McKinney, Fort Worth, Arlington, Mesquite, Carrolton, Decatur, Terrell, Weatherford, Sherman, Rockwall, Burleson, Waxahachie, Richardson, Lewisville, Balch Springs, or Frisco, contact Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy.
Attorney Richard McConathy will help you determine if you’re eligible to have your license reinstated and fight your license suspension. Call Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy for a free consultation at (972) 233-5700 about your alleged DWI offense.
If an individual is convicted of a DWI in Dallas, they can face driver’s license suspensions under Tex. Transp. Code § 521.344, depending on the type of DWI offense the alleged offender has been convicted of.
If the law enforcement officer who pulled you over on suspicion of DWI while you were operating a motor vehicle requested you take a field sobriety test or submit to a chemical alcohol concentration test, including a breath or blood test, your driver’s license will automatically be suspended upon refusal, or even if you submit to testing and your BAC is over .08. This is considered a civil penalty, and can result in a suspension, regardless if you are subsequently convicted of a DWI offense and face additional criminal penalties.
After you are requested to submit to testing, the arresting officer will inform you about the penalties for refusing to submit to testing and the suspension periods for having an alcohol concentration over .08, even if a conviction does not result.
A first DWI refusal suspension is for a period of 180 days under Tex. Transp. Code § 724.035. If the individual has one or more alcohol or drug related DWI refusals within 10 years before the current offense, their license will be suspended for a period of two years.
If an individual does submit to testing and has an alcohol concentration level (BAC) over .08, their license will automatically be suspended for a period of 90 days, whether or not they are subsequently prosecuted for DWI, according to Tex. Transp. Code § 524.022. If they have previously had any alcohol-related contact on their driving record within the preceding 10 years, their license will be suspended for a one year period.
An individual who has received an administrative license suspension can request a hearing under the Tex. Transp. Code § 724.041 in writing within 15 days of receiving notice of the license suspension. An administrative license revocation hearing request will postpone the license suspension until a decision has been made whether the license suspension was justified or not.
If an individual possesses a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and is convicted of a first DWI related offense while operating any motor vehicle, their CDL will be disqualified for a period of one year under Tex. Transp. Code § 522.081. If the individual had an alcohol concentration of .04 while driving their commercial motor vehicle or .08 while operating another motor vehicle, their CDL privileges will be suspended for one year, regardless if they were convicted of a DWI offense or not. If the offense involved transporting hazardous material, the disqualification period is increased to three years.
Have an alcohol concentration of .08 while operating a motor vehicle, whether or not a conviction resulted.
Anyone who possesses a CDL and refuses to submit to testing is immediately not permitted to operate their vehicle for 24 hours under Tex. Transp. Code § 522.101. A refusal to submit to testing will also lead to a disqualification from driving a commercial vehicle for one year under Tex. Transp. Code § 522.081.
An individual who is under the age of 21 can face a license suspension for one year if they are charged and convicted of a DWI offense under Tex. Transp. Code § 521.342. This is considered a criminal penalty.
According to the Texas Transportation Code § 524.022, the minor individual is also subject to an automatic administrative license suspension (civil penalty) for at least 60 days if they have any detectable amount of alcohol in their system, even if they agree to alcohol testing. If they have previously been convicted of a DWI offense, their license will be suspended for 120 days. If the minor has been convicted of two or more alcohol related offenses, their license will be suspended for a period of 180 days.
If a person under the age of 21 refuses chemical testing of their blood or breath alcohol concentration, they are subject to the same license suspensions as individuals over the age of 21. A first refusal to consent is an automatic suspension for 180 days. A second or subsequent refusal within 10 years will lead to an automatic suspension for two years.
Texas Constitution and Statutes – Civil License Penalties – This link is to Chapter 724 of the Texas Transportation Code, which defines an administrative license revocation, or a civil penalty to DWI. Administrative license revocations can occur if the alleged offender refuses to submit to chemical testing of the blood or breath for alcohol content, or if they submit and are over the legal limit of .08. Information about administrative license revocation hearings are also included in this chapter of the Transportation Code.
Texas Constitution and Statutes – Criminal License Penalties – This link is to Chapter 521 of the Texas Transportation Code, specifically sections 521.342 and 521.344, which provide for license suspensions for DWI related convictions. These are criminal penalties for DWI offenses, which only occur upon a conviction.
Texas DPS – Administrative License Revocation (ALR) – This link is to information on Texas administrative license suspensions, periods of suspension and hearings on administrative license revocations.
Contact Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy today for a consultation about your administrative license suspension throughout Dallas County in Texas. Richard McConathy is an experienced Dallas DUI lawyer who will help you reinstate your driver’s license after a DWI offense or refusal to submit to testing.
Call (972) 233-5700 for a consultation about your DWI license suspension throughout Dallas County in Texas and the surrounding counties of Denton County, Collin County, Wise County, Kaufman County, Parker County, Grayson County, Rockwall County, Johnson County, Ellis County and Tarrant County.

References: § 521
 § 724
 § 524
 § 724
 § 522
 § 522
 § 522
 § 521
 § 524