First off, it’s not me. A good friend has a stepson that has been written up for DWI at least 4 times. Several of those times were with car wrecks. And recently he was in jail for DWI again. This is in Temple. My question is - how many times can he do this and get away with it? Does he have to kill someone to get serious jail time? Surely not.

What are the rules these days? Or does where you live matter - different city with different rules?

From what I have seen it would depend on how many convictions he has for this and also what county he is arrested in. Some DA's put up with that stuff and will water down the charge to something dumb like obstructing highway passageway.

Boy needs his arse whooped if he drinks anything. How hard is it to drive?

I’ve met him. He’s a complete idiot, and on dope if he isn’t drunk. How he stays out of jail absolutely amazes me. He’s totaled 2 cars while drunk. Driving an uninsured loaner right now. It isn’t my problem at all except that I fear for other people. And, he’s causing problems for folks I like.

Where you live does matter..along with how much money you or your family has to keep you out of jail. As long as you can pay the fines and hire a decent lawyer, the cycle will keep repeating. If you can’t pay, the chances of you staying out of jail won’t be that many.

He has zero money, no lawyer and no connections. And he stays out of jail.

My uncle had 7 by 2002 (beginning with the first one I knew about in 1991, but I'm sure he had more as he was a drunk from the late 70's on (after returning from Vietnam))...that 7th one he was caught in Eastland Co and they threw the book at him. He had to sell his truck, lost his license and was on 10 years probation, along with a huge fine...It never happened again. He was sober the last 19 years of his life.

County must not want to pay to feed, clothe, and house him. That’s the other side of it.

Yeah, what could happen anyway?

maybe he is a hell of a snitch?

It starts with a class B Misdemeanor and then increases each time from there. DWI 5th typically gets about 10-20 years TDC.

You’re talking convictions. Add in deferred adjudications, reduced to PI’s and that number of arrests for DWI without going to the pen can get way up there.

Good info. Thanks. I just hope he doesn’t kill anyone or one of his kids. He has two little blond kids with his former girlfriend. They have to be in danger from time to time.

I have a family member in north Texas that "only" has a couple DUIs and has probably spent the last 6 or 7 years behind bars. Not sure how your guy has avoided a good chunk of jail time.

Of course I’m talking about convictions. Arrests are irrelevant.

A little sugar in your coffee a little sugar in your tea a little in his gas tank if it was up to me.

Arrests are what I gathered the OP was asking about when he stated “written up for”.

I sat on a jury in a case where a woman had her third DWI violation. She caused a multi car accident, injuring 4-5 people, 2 of them severely. Her other 2 cases were wrecks also. We found her guilty and I looked up her sentence, and she got 20+ years.

I have no mercy on people who drive intoxicated. Most people who do it are selfish and self centered to begin with and don't give a damn about anyone else around them. F' em!

About like this POS who killed the FW Police officer:

These guys who get multiple DWI are the reasons people like me can no longer sip on frozen margartia headed home from the Mexican restaurant after getting my order to go

Chili's will give you a margarita but you have to do pick up only, you can't dine first and then grab one to go .

I grew up drinking and driving in Texas and don't remember it being an issue.

The unfortunate reality is that it is up to the DA to prosecute and many suck at doing their jobs. On average for every DWI the offender has gotten away with it 1000 times. Let that sink in.

Do not know how stiff or lack there of DUI's laws are? What is obvious is that judges, prosecutors/DA's need to hand out stiffer penalties and sentences especially for repeat offenders!!

Hopefully he only kills himself. 3rd time should be a mandatory 10 years, IMO.

Had an ex-coworker that has to be close to 7 DWI's if not more. So far he has managed to stay away from any long term jail time. Don't know how he has done this.

I know a guy that has 6; for numbers 5-6 he got extended time in the pen, maybe a total of 8 years served.