Hempstead Multiple DUI Lawyer

Hempstead Multiple DUI Attorney

Facing a first DUI arrest has the potential to alter your life permanently. The first step is finding a lawyer who can pursue a strong defense in your case and help protect your future. If you are facing a second or third DUI charge, having a local Hempstead multiple DUI lawyer in your corner is critical.

The Law Office of Joseph Ruiz, PLLC, features a premier criminal defense lawyer with over 20 years of experience handling alcohol-related charges, including DUI. When you hire a multiple DUI lawyer from the Law Office of Joseph Ruiz, PLLC, you get the benefit of a seasoned trial attorney who can fight for your rights, whether your multiple DUI case is resolved through a plea agreement or proceeds to trial.

DUI Charges in Hempstead, Texas

Hempstead in Waller County reported a 2025 population of just under 7,000 residents. This suburb of Houston reported a decrease in the crime rate of 16.83% in 2024. However, in 2024, Waller County reported four fatal DUI-related crashes resulting in five deaths and five additional crashes involving serious injuries during the same year.

Texas law for intoxication and alcoholic beverage offenses comprises Chapter 49 of the Texas Penal Code. DUI charges in Texas are serious for both minors and adults who operate a vehicle while intoxicated. A person is considered legally intoxicated when their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08% or higher. Legal intoxication can also result from drugs and applies to operating a motor vehicle, watercraft, or aircraft.

Penalties for Texas DUI charges increase substantially per conviction: 

• First Offense: Up to a $2,000 fine, up to 180 days in jail, and a driver’s license suspension of up to one year.
• Second Offense: Up to a $4,000 fine, 30 days to one year in jail, and a license suspension of up to two years.
• Third Offense: Up to a $10,000 fine, two to ten years in a Texas state prison, and a license suspension of up to two years.

Each offense also results in the mandatory installation at your cost of a locking device on your vehicle that prevents you from driving when impaired. If you are found impaired with a child passenger or cause a motor vehicle accident resulting in injury or death of another person, penalties increase substantially.

Other Important Factors for Multiple DUI Convictions

Texas considers all prior DUI convictions when enhancing future charges and penalties. Multiple DUI convictions can negatively affect your life in many ways, including mandatory ignition interlock devices, strict probation requirements, substance abuse treatment, and regular testing. Courts may also impose extended licensure suspensions and higher fines.

Long-term consequences also include a permanent criminal record, increased insurance premiums, and limited employment opportunities. You may experience housing challenges and lasting consequences on your personal and professional reputation.

Hire a Multiple DUI Lawyer

When you’re up against multiple DUI offenses in Texas, it’s important to hire a multiple DUI lawyer. The Law Office of Joseph Ruiz, PLLC, can defend your rights and protect your reputation. The increasing severity of penalties for each DUI conviction can negatively impact your life for a long time, if not permanently. Having a criminal record can hinder your chances of getting the job you want or make you lose out on housing or rental options.

Rather than gambling with your future, hire an attorney at the Law Office of Joseph Ruiz, PLLC, in Hempstead. Our legal team operates with integrity, honesty, and a commitment to legal excellence in every case we handle. We can help you understand your rights, evaluate your legal options, and provide consistent guidance throughout the legal process.

FAQs About Multiple DUI Law

How Many DUIs Can You Have in Texas?

The number of DUIs you can have in Texas is unlimited. Jail time, fines, and license suspension periods all increase significantly with each DUI charge. You’ll also be impacted by having an ignition lock on your vehicle. For example, a first DUI conviction is a Class B misdemeanor with jail time, fines, and license suspension. A second conviction starts as a Class A misdemeanor, with much heavier penalties.

What Happens if You Get 3 DUIs in Texas?

When you get 3 DUIs in Texas, you are charged with a third-degree felony, which carries a 2-10-year prison sentence, fines up to $10,000, and a possibly permanent license suspension. Each penalty increases if there are aggravating factors like having a child in the car under 15 years or if you’ve caused an accident resulting in assault or death.

How Long Are You in Jail for 3 DUIs?

When convicted of a third DUI in Texas, you may face somewhere between two and 10 years of jail time. Additionally, you face paying fines up to $10,000, installation of an ignition lock device, and surcharges for driving after your license suspension ends. Other charges apply to extend each penalty if you had a child in the car, assaulted another person, or caused a fatal accident.

What Is the 3 Felony Rule in Texas?

Texas is a three-strikes law state to help manage habitual offenders under Texas Penal Code Chapter 12 (12.42). Defendants face additional penalties, including the possibility of a mandatory prison sentence of 25 years to life or 15-99 years for first-degree felony convictions. Essentially, each felony conviction is a strike, and after three strikes, you’re out or facing long or permanent residency in a Texas prison.

Hire a Multiple DUI Lawyer

If you find yourself facing a second or third DUI charge, contact the Law Office of Joseph Ruiz, PLLC, for help. Our legal team’s priority is operating with integrity and providing our clients with the highest quality legal representation possible.

Repeat DUI charges carry harsh penalties, such as license suspension, increased fines, mandatory programs, and jail time. That’s why having a strong legal advocate on your side is crucial. Our team carefully evaluates all facts of your case, challenges improper police procedures, and pursues every possible avenue in your defense.

Contact our office today and set up an initial consultation with a Hempstead multiple DUI lawyer. Discover your legal options and start protecting your rights, reputation, and future.