In Texas, there are statues in place to immediately revoke a person's driver's license if he or she is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The stated goal of the law is to make sure that drivers who engage in dangerous behavior like operating a vehicle under the influence are not allowed to drive again until their case has been resolved.
An additional advantage that the license revocation law gives to law enforcement officials is the ability to persuade drivers to submit to field sobriety tests and submit chemical samples for analysis.
In Texas, drivers suspected of drunk driving may refuse to take tests or blow into a breathalyzer, but the punishment for refusing to do so may be license revocation for one year.
Harsh penalties like long-term license suspension help convince people to submit to testing, which ultimately may help law enforcement make a case against them.
Drivers must determine if it is in their best interest to submit a sample for testing or lose their driver's license immediately.
Fortunately, drivers who are facing license suspension have a right to an administrative hearing in court.
These hearings are not meant to determine a person's guilt or innocence, but simply a procedure to determine if the accused individual should be allowed to keep their license or not.
It is wise to consult an experienced DWI attorney to help with the administrative hearing.
He or she may be able to help convince the judge that the license should not be revoked, or may find a suitable alternative.
Persons facing license revocation may be able to convince the court that they need to use an automobile to travel to work, school, or other obligations that the court deems reasonable.
Drivers may be issued a provisional license that allows them to use a vehicle to travel to certain destinations at certain times of the day and week.
It is important that drivers closely follow the rules regarding provisional licenses and make sure that they do not operate a vehicle during prohibited times.
An experienced DWI attorney may be able to assist you with license revocation hearings and often is a valuable source of advice and support.
If you would like to know more about revocation hearings and defending against DWI charges, visit the website of the Dallas DWI attorney Mark T.
Lassiter.