Drunk Driving in Texas
Dallas man accused of Manslaughter in Drunk Driving Case
Last October, Justin Heaton of Dallas, TX was operating his vehicle with a blood alcohol content of 0.17, which is more than twice the legal limit. Heaton ran a stop sign and collided with Gary Purdue, a Parkland Hospital doctor, who was on his motorcycle. Purdue was thrown off of his bike and killed. Heaton faces life in prison if convicted.
New Drunk Driving Law: September 2011
In related news, a new law was recently passed in Texas known as the “Extreme DWI law.” Those who are found to be “extremely drunk (BAC of 0.15 or higher) will now face harsher penalties. The driving while intoxicated charges are increased from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor. If convicted, these drivers could face up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine which is double the penalty for a standard DWI.