Office Location
608 West 12th Street, Suite B Austin, TX 78701
legalassistant@wm-attorneys.com 512-369-3737 get directionRecent case results
Texas is home to the fastest speed limit in the United States, with stretches of State Highway 130 having a limit of 85 miles per hour. Even with liberal speed limits, many drivers choose to drive faster than the speed limit permits, often leading to speeding tickets.
In some cases, excessive speeding can be a criminal offense, and it can even become a felony under rare circumstances. Anytime you face a speeding charge, seek help from an Austin criminal defense attorney right away.
Motorists may face misdemeanor charges for racing on the highway. Street racing or racing on the highway, in and of itself, is termed as reckless driving. When the defendant is charged with a misdemeanor, they may have to spend 30 to 180 days in jail. This offense escalates to a state felony jail charge if the defendant has at least two prior convictions.
If speeding leads to bodily injury or death, it can turn into a second-degree felony. In some cases, this type of charge can lead to 20 years of prison time.
The penalties you’ll receive for speeding depend on how fast you are driving and the road on which you are driving. For instance, if you’re caught speeding over 10% but under 15 mph under the posted speed limit, you may have to pay a $200 fine.
If your speed surpasses 15 mph, you may be charged with a misdemeanor and be subject to jail time or a fine of up to $500.
A Class C misdemeanor is the least severe criminal violation in this respect and, again, can carry a fine of $500. This type of infraction covers most basic traffic infractions. This is a fine-only misdemeanor.
The most commonly charged Class B misdemeanor stemming from a traffic offense is Reckless Driving which is defined as driving a vehicle with wilful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.
At any speed, evading arrest in your vehicle is a 3rd Degree Felony. Other felonies resulting from driving infractions include Intoxication Manslaughter, Intoxication Assault, DWI 3rd or more. If arrested for a felony based on conduct from your vehicle you need a highly experienced criminal defense lawyer immediately.
It’s important to remember that default speed limits are enforced in all parts of Texas. The general default limits are 70 mph on rural highways and 60 mph on urban highways. In urban areas, the default speed limit is 30 mph, while beach areas and alleys have 15 mph default speed limits.
Always be aware of the posted speed and depending on road, weather and traffic conditions try to drive at a reasonable speed to avoid getting pulled over by law enforcement.
Whether you were arrested for reckless driving or need a criminal defense lawyer for a charge of vehicular manslaughter or homicide, contact a DWI and criminal defense lawyer with proven experience. In Austin, Texas, contact the Law Firm of David D. White, PLLC: Austin Criminal Lawyer. Make sure you have a legal professional on your side.Call for a consultation today.
The founder of the Law Office of David D. White, PLLC: Austin Criminal Lawyer, has been defending the rights of criminal defendants in Austin, Texas since 2008. We are a client-centered law firm where we fight to preserve the presumption of innocence on behalf of our clients in every criminal case we take. We believe that everyone is entitled to a fair trial and we strive to provide our clients with the best possible defense to ensure that this is true.
If you've been charged with a DWI, it's crucial to understand the potential severity of the charges against you. In this blog post, we'll explore whether a DWI is considered a felony and what that means for your l...
If you live in Texas and want to drink alcohol, you legally have to be 21 to enjoy the privilege. A minor who buys alcohol, tries to purchase alcohol, possesses or consumes alcoholic beverages, or has alcohol in t...
What happens to your driver's license if your DWI case is dismissed? You might be wondering if is your license suspended immediately after a DWI in Texas as well. Below is some general information, but if you are ...
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney, David D. White who has more than 20 years of legal experience as an Austin Criminal Defense Lawyer.
608 West 12th Street, Suite B Austin, TX 78701
legalassistant@wm-attorneys.com 512-369-3737 get direction