Sugar Land Texas DWI Lawyer

DPS Surcharges

On September 1, 2003, the “Driver Responsibility Act” went into effect, courtesy of the Texas State Legislature. The Texas Department of Safety requires anyone convicted of a first offense DWI to pay an administrative fee, or “surcharge”, of $1,000 per year for three years in order to maintain their driver’s license. A second or subsequent offense DWI will make you liable for $1,500 per year for three years, and for those with a chemical test result of .16 or higher, the surcharge is $2,000 a year for three years. This is above and beyond any criminal fines or court costs that are owed. If the charges are not paid within the time allowed, the person charged can kiss their driver’s license goodbye until the surcharge is paid.

There is a certain amount of debate going on over the constitutionality of this fee. If the Texas courts decide the surcharge is in fact just an additional DPS fine, the law could be deemed an infringement of a person’s double jeopardy rights making it unlawful. A Sugar Land DWI lawyer can discuss this with you further.

If you have been charged with a DWI in Sugar Land or Richmond, Texas, you need the services of an experienced Sugar Land DWI attorney. At the Law Firm of David Hunter, we have saved our clients thousands of dollars in DPS surcharges by ensuring that their traffic offenses and violations are not reported to DPS as convictions. A Sugar Land DWI lawyer at the David Hunter Law Firm can assist you with maneuvering through the system to save money on DPS surcharges.

Contact the Law Firm of David Hunter to speak with a skilled Sugar Land DWI attorney and learn how we can help your case.