The History of DWI Law in Texas
The first drunk driving arrest took place in 1897, in England, when an intoxicated taxi cab driver drove into the side of a building. In 1910, drunk driving laws made their way to the United States, and over the years have become more and more strict.
While these laws have saved many lives and benefited society as a whole, the zeal with which law enforcement prosecutes these crimes has caused many innocent people to pay steep fines, lose their driving privileges and go to jail.
If you have been charged with DWI and are seeking legal guidance, contact me today online or by telephone at 903-596-9696 to speak with an experienced Texas criminal defense lawyer.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
In 1980, a California woman named Candy Lighter founded Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) after her 13-year-old daughter was killed by a drunk driver. Today, the organization is known as Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Over the years, MADD has played an instrumental role in creating drunk driving legislation, successfully lobbying to have the legal drinking age raised to 21, and advocating for harsher penalties and stricter enforcement of drunk driving laws.
The efforts of MADD and other advocacy groups such as SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) continue today. Their current goals include having the legal blood alcohol limit lowered to .06. As a citizen of Texas, I appreciate the efforts these groups have made to make our streets safer. As a criminal defense attorney, I work everyday to ensure my clients are treated fairly under the law.
Texas DWI Laws
Technology has played a role in DWI arrests since 1938, when Dr. Rolla Harger invented the "drunk-o-meter," the first device that could reliably detect blood alcohol content in the bloodstream. In 1954, the drunk-o-meter was made obsolete by a more portable testing device known as the Breathalyzer.
The legal blood alcohol limit has declined steadily from .15 to .10, to its current level of .08. Police have other tools at their disposal, such as field sobriety tests and blood tests.
But just because this technology exists does not mean the results are always accurate. These tools malfunction, and the law enforcement professionals who operate them are not always qualified to do so. If you have been charged with drunk driving in East Texas, it is important to have an attorney on your side who knows how to challenge the evidence against you.
Contact Me for a Free Consultation
Call my office in Tyler at 903-596-9696 for honest answers and sound legal advice regarding any DWI arrest in East Texas. You can also e-mail me now to set up an appointment.
