Alcohol-Related Offenses

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If you are 21 years of age or older at the time of the violation and convicted of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), a court may require one or all of the following:

  1. Complete an Alcohol Education Program. This can include:
    1. A 12-hour DWI Intervention Program, or
    2. A 32-hour DWI Repeat Offender Program.
    1. If granted probation, you will be required to complete a 12-hour class in an authorized Alcohol Education Program unless the requirement is waived by the presiding judge.
    2. Evidence of completion of the appropriate Alcohol Education Program must be submitted to the Department within 180 days from date of conviction or the driver license will be revoked. A Reinstatement fee will be required if the driver license is revoked;
    1. You will be required to apply for an Interlock Restricted driver license to be eligible to drive.
    2. If your driving privilege is suspended in addition to the interlock requirement you may be eligible to apply for an Occupational driver license. If you need to drive for work or essential needs purposes during the suspension period please contact your resident county court or justice of the peace court for information on how to apply for an order granting an Occupational driver license.

    DWI for Minors

    If you are under 21 years of age at the time of the violation and are convicted of DWI you will receive a one-year driver license suspension (subsequent alcohol related offenses may result in an 18 month suspension). Prior to the renewal or issuance of your driver license, you must complete each of the following:

    1. Serve the required suspension period;
    2. Obtain a Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate (SR-22) from an authorized insurance company (an SR-22 must be maintained for two years from the date of conviction);
    3. Pay a $100 Reinstatement fee, in addition to paying any other outstanding fees.

    A minor may receive a 90-day driver license suspension if the convicting court orders community supervision that requires the installation of an interlock ignition device . You will be required to apply for an Interlock Restricted driver license to be eligible to drive.

    The convicting court may also require the completion of a 12-hour class in an authorized Alcohol Education Program (failure to complete this class will result in an additional 180 day suspension and a $100 reinstatement fee).

    Other Alcohol Offenses Committed by Minors

    Minors who are convicted of any of the following offenses will receive a 30-day suspension for the first offense, a 60-day suspension for the second offense, and a 180-day suspension for the third offense.

    1. Purchase of Alcohol
    2. Attempt to Purchase Alcohol
    3. Consumption of Alcohol
    4. Possession of Alcohol
    5. Misrepresentation of Age
    6. Public Intoxication

    DWI for Commercial Driver Licenses (CDL)

    If you hold a commercial driver license and are convicted of DWI, your CDL will be disqualified.

    Alcohol Education Program Classes

    Approved Alcohol Education Program classes may be located through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. This includes both in-person and online courses.

    You may receive a suspension for a DWI conviction and a suspension for a blood or breath test refusal or failure resulting from the same arrest.

    Driver License Reinstatement Requirements

    For more information on submitting compliance and fees to the Department, visit the Reinstating your Driver License or Driving Privilege webpage.

    Driver Eligibility Status

    To check the status of your driver license or to determine if you are eligible for reinstatement, visit the License Eligibility webpage. This page will provide you with information on what you will need to reinstate your driver license or driving privilege, including any fees you may owe. Once all compliance items have been processed and your mandatory suspension period has ended, your driver eligibility status will be updated to reflect "eligible".

    For more information on alcohol-related offenses, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions webpage or download the Driver License Enforcement Actions chart for a complete list of driver license suspensions and revocations.