Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins
DUI has devolved into no more than a money grab, an industry feeding the coffers of cities, towns, and counties across the nation. Not to mention the lawyers with practices devoted solely to DUI defence. None of the players involved really want it to stop. It's very, very lucrative to them.
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Totally agree with this. I don't take retained DWI clients and begrudgingly take them as court appointments.
Texas also has a "superfine" for DWI that is administrative and not criminal. It's debatable when it kicks in but most people believe if you serve a jail sentence then it applies. And this is in addition to any fine or fee applied by the Court in a criminal case (B misdemeanor is $2,000 fine; A misdemeanor is $4,000 fine). Then you add in the fee paid to the probation department for your monthly visit, up to $75, cost of ignition interlock $150/month, DWI classes; it can get very expensive.
There is also automatic administrative license suspensions that vary from 60 days to 180 days. You can have a hearing on the suspension but people charge around $1,500. If the officer shows up you basically lose the hearing. Then there is a $125 license reinstatement fee.
Superfine amounts:
1) $3,000 for the first conviction within a 36-month period;
(2) $4,500 for a second or subsequent conviction within a 36-month period; and
(3) $6,000 for a first or subsequent conviction if it is shown on the trial of the offense that an analysis of a specimen of the person's blood