The Open Container Statute
In Texas, DWI laws state that it’s illegal to have an open container of alcohol in a vehicle at any time. It doesn’t matter if it’s the driver or a passenger, or whether the vehicle is in transit at the time. It is still a criminal offense even if the container is empty and there are only a few drops of beer or liquid that’s left at the bottom. Yes, you can be arrested for suds.
Understanding the Law
For the purposes of this Texas law, a container is defined as anything that can be used to hold alcohol.
This includes cans, bottles, hip flasks, sealed cups, cups, or any container that can hold any form of alcoholic beverage. Every day numerous people in the Houston, TX general region are arrested for criminal offenses related to Texas Open Container Laws or Driving While Intoxicated.
If you, a relative, or other loved one were arrested for such an offense, Houston DWI Lawyer Tad A. Nelson can help you. His office can be reached at 713-489-7373. A top DWI Defense litigation attorney, their law firm is sure to be of legal assistance to those in need.
DWI laws, laws intended to curb Driving While Intoxication occurrences, are taken very seriously in Texas. If you are caught with an open alcohol container, there’s a strong possibility that you will be charged with an open container violation.
Arrested for an Open Container Violation?
Contact a Houston DWI Lawyer for Help!
If you find yourself charged with an alcohol-related criminal offense in Houston, then the most important thing is not to panic, and hiring a DWI lawyer in Houston as soon as possible. Being charged doesn’t necessarily mean that you are going to be convicted on your day in court at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center.
For the best way to mitigate the damages such an offense will cause in your life, it’s best to contact a lawyer that specializes in DWI cases as soon as possible. This will minimize the risk that enhancements can be added to your charges. There’s a good chance that the State of Texas will look to add enhancements because they take any DWI charges very seriously. Trying to deal with these charges yourself without the help of an attorney isn’t recommended.
Consult a DWI Attorney ASAP
A skilled Houston DWI attorney will be able to go through all the facts of the case with you and find out what the circumstances were that led to your having an open alcohol container violation. If they find that these circumstances should lead to the charges being dropped then this is something that they will argue for in court on your behalf. They will have a much better idea of how the law works than you will and so are best placed to argue your case. The consequences of being convicted of a DWI offense can be life changing and so you will want to give yourself the best chance of being cleared.
