Life can be incredibly difficult without a car. So many of us rely on our vehicles in order to keep our cars, so losing your Texas driver’s license because of a DWI can be devastating. There are a number of circumstances that can get your Texas driver’s license suspended during an alcohol-related driving offense. These include:
- If you refuse to submit to a blood or a breath test during a traffic stop then it is pretty much assumed that you are over the limit by default
- If you fail a blood or breath test during your arrest
- If you are under the age of 21, the legal drinking age, and you are stopped with any amount of alcohol in your system that can be detected
- When you are convicted of a DWI, your license is suspended as a matter of course
It’s important to note that you could be facing an alcohol-related license suspension even if you haven’t had any alcohol or are well below the legal limit. For example, you have a beer with your friends but decide to stop drinking early because you know that you have to drive home later. Unfortunately, you get stopped by a law enforcement officer on your way home and they can smell the beer on your breath.
You know that you have only had a tiny bit of alcohol, you are well within the legal driving limit, but you refuse to take a breath test when it is offered. This refusal would be grounds to take you in as a DWI and your license is likely to be suspended. So even though you didn’t break the law by driving with too high of a BAC, your refusal to take a breath test still ended up leaving you vulnerable to losing your license.
What Do I Have to Do to Get My License Back?
You need to apply for reinstatement with the Texas Department of Public Safety. An application is made up of three components:
- Your personal identification information: This is information like your driver’s license number, name, birth date, address, and other personal information that you would expect for pretty much any application.
- Payment: There is a reinstatement fee and you can’t get a license reinstated without paying it.
- Compliance Documentation: This will be more dependent on the specifics of your DWI. You may have to show that you completed probation or that you complied with and completed the alcohol education course you were punished with.
If you don’t run into any problems then you should have your license reinstated within 21 days of submitting your application. However, if issues arise then you could be denied or you may need to send additional documentation.
How Do I Get Help Getting My License Reinstated?
If you’ve lost your license because of a DWI charge then reach out to Wilder Law Firm to learn more about how we can help you get your license back. We understand that your ability to drive is akin to your personal freedom. We look forward to working with you to help you get that freedom back.