Public Intoxication in The Woodlands

HOW SERIOUS IS A PUBLIC INTOXICATION CHARGE THE WOODLANDS TEXAS?

Public Intoxication is a severe criminal offense punishable by arrest, a maximum $500 fine, community service, alcohol awareness, and a devastating permanent conviction in some cases. This offense is a class C misdemeanor but can impose serious employment, educational, and professional licensing consequences. Certain repeat offenders are subject to an enhanced maximum jail sentence of 6 months and a $2,000 fine. Learn more.

• Do you go to jail for Public Intoxication in The Woodlands Texas? Yes, people who are heavily intoxicated in public are routinely arrested and criminally prosecuted for Public Intoxication, despite this being a “fine only” offense in The Woodlands. Police make these arrests as a public safety matter because they deem heavily intoxicated individuals a danger to themselves or others.

• What happens when you get Public Intoxication in The Woodlands Texas? A Public Intoxication arrest in The Woodlands will result in detention until the Defendant regains sobriety and is released. The Defendant must then appear in court as directed until the case is resolved in a final judgment or Deferred Disposition. A Defendant who neglects a Public Intoxication in The Woodlands is subject to an arrest warrant and additional criminal charges. Learn more.

WHAT IS THE GROUNDS FOR PUBLIC INTOXICATION IN TEXAS?

A Texas Public Intoxication case will result when an individual appears in public while intoxicated to the extent they endanger themselves or another. This is an admittedly broad standard which leaves much room for an officer’s subjective opinion. Therefore, police are most likely to arrest those individuals who act disorderly, unnecessarily agitate others, or who are needlessly combative with law enforcement while under the influence of alcohol in Texas. Learn more.

• What is the first offense for Public Intoxication in The Woodlands Texas? A first-offense Public Intoxication in The Woodlands is a class C misdemeanor punishable by a maximum $500 fine though some sentences impose additional community service and alcohol awareness requirements. After two convictions, a third Public Intoxication offense enhances to a class B misdemeanor, with a jail range of 72 hours to 180 days and a maximum $2,000 fine.

• Does a Public Intoxication show on background check in The Woodlands Texas? Yes, a Public Intoxication case will appear on a criminal background check in the Woodlands even when the charge is dismissed. However, some offenses may qualify for Expunction, a powerful legal tool that deletes all records of eligible criminal cases. Learn more.

IS IT ILLEGAL TO BE DRUNK IN PUBLIC THE WOODLANDS TEXAS?

It is illegal to walk around drunk in public in the Woodlands if a person is intoxicated to the extent they pose a danger to themselves or others. This offense is Public Intoxication, a class C misdemeanor punishable by arrest, a maximum $500 fine, and a permanent criminal conviction in some cases. A Public Intoxication can devastate employment, educational, and professional prospects in The Woodlands. Learn more.

• Is drinking in public a crime in The Woodlands Texas? There is no ordinance or law against public alcohol drinking in the Woodlands. However, it is illegal to drink so much so as to become intoxicated to the point a person endangers themselves or others.

• Can you expunge a Public Intoxication in Texas? Yes, a Public Intoxication charge may be expunged in Texas if dismissed, or resolved successfully through Deferred Disposition. An expunction will destroy all records of qualifying cases and legally allow a person to deny existence of the offense. Learn more.

WHICH OF THESE ARE SIGNS OF PUBLIC INTOXICATION IN THE WOODLANDS?

Police in The Woodlands are specially trained to investigate clues of intoxication including glassy, bloodshot eyes, the odor of intoxicants, slurred speech, and difficulties with divided attention tasks. Public Intoxication suspects in The Woodlands are advised to limit interaction with law enforcement so as to preserve important legal defenses. Learn more.

• What is the difference between tipsy and drunk? The words tipsy and drunk are often used interchangeably in casual settings to refer to someone being under varying levels of influence of alcohol. In this context, a “drunk” person is generally experiencing greater effects of alcohol than a person who is “tipsy.” However, in a legal or scientific scenario, the preferred term is “intoxicated,” which refers to a specific level of alcohol influence. Learn more.

• What is considered legally intoxicated in The Woodlands Texas? Texas law specifies that a driver is legally intoxicated if they present a 0.08 BAC or if they have lost the normal use of their mental or physical faculties due to intoxicants, including alcohol or legal drugs. Additionally, a person who appears in public while intoxicated to the extent they endanger themselves or others is also legally intoxicated. A minor who operates a motor vehicle with any detectable amount of alcohol in their system is subject to criminal prosecution. Learn more.

WHAT IS THE PENALTY FOR A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR IN THE WOODLANDS TEXAS?

Class C misdemeanors in The Woodlands carry a maximum $500 fine-only penalty. However, most violations are still subject to arrest, community service hours, and criminal conviction. Certain class C misdemeanors can be devastating for many Texans, including teachers, nurses, financial professionals, and military members. Learn more.

• How long does a PI stay on your record in The Woodlands Texas? A Public Intoxication charge stays permanently on criminal records in The Woodlands even when dismissed. The only way to remove an offense is by Expunction, a powerful legal process that deletes all records of qualifying cases in The Woodlands. Learn more.

• Can you sit in your car drunk The Woodlands Texas? It is not illegal for a person to sit in their vehicle while intoxicated in the Woodlands. However, this behavior easily invites police attention and could result in Public Intoxication charges if the person is a danger to themselves or others. This conduct also risks Driving While Intoxicated charges if there is any evidence the person recently operated the vehicle. Learn more.

CAN YOU WALK AROUND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A BEER IN THE WOODLANDS?

There is no law or ordinance prohibiting a person from walking around their neighborhood with a beer in The Woodlands. However, it is a criminal offense for a person to drink so much as to become intoxicated to the point they endanger themselves or others. 

• Can you drink alcohol on your lunch break in Texas? There is no general law that prohibits an employer from drinking alcohol on their lunch break in Texas. However, as a policy concern, many companies may prohibit this as an unnecessary and inhibiting distraction for their employees, especially in those occupations requiring minute attention to detail or where heavy machinery is involved. For example, a surgeon may not be allowed to consume alcohol prior to performing a procedure. Likewise, many commercial vehicle and machinery operators are prohibited from drinking while on duty. Learn more.

IS IT LEGAL TO DRINK AT HOME IN TEXAS?

Yes it is legal for Texans to consume alcohol, even to the point of intoxication, in their homes. Alcohol may be purchased legally in grocery stores, liquor stores, bars, and may even be included with to-go food orders at restaurants. Learn more.

• How do you get a Public Intoxication charge dismissed in The Woodlands Texas? Public Intoxication charges are dismissed by challenging the prosecution evidence and the arresting officer’s qualifications, and establishing that the Defendant was not a danger to anyone. These cases are prosecuted aggressively in The Woodlands but dismissals are regularly secured by experienced legal counsel.

• What is the Texas Public Intoxication defense? The Public Intoxication definition is a vague standard that leaves a lot of room for an arresting officer’s subjective interpretation. Therefore an effective Texas Public Intoxication defense will attack the officer’s qualifications and observations in making the determination that the Defendant posed a danger due to their intoxication. Learn more.

WHAT IS THE INTOXICATION LIMIT IN THE WOODLANDS TEXAS?

The intoxication limit for drivers in The Woodlands is 0.08 percent BAC. Driver’s with this BAC are subject to Driving While Intoxicated charges, a driver’s license suspension, an insurance premium increase, and jail in some cases. Public Intoxication cases are not predicated on any specific BAC but on whether the individual is so intoxicated as to pose a danger to self or another.

• How do you beat a drunk in public charge? A Public Intoxication charge can be beat by attacking the prosecution evidence and establishing the Defendant was not a danger to anyone. Cases where the Defendant limits their interaction with law enforcement have the greatest odds for success.

• What are class C misdemeanors in The Woodlands Texas? Class C misdemeanors are criminal offenses in The Woodlands that are punishable by a maximum $500 fine. These offenses are common but can impose devastating consequences for Texas teachers, nurses, financial professionals, and military members. Learn more.

WHAT IS OBVIOUS INTOXICATION IN TEXAS?

Obvious intoxication is the standard used in bars and restaurants when assessing whether to serve alcoholic beverages. Under Texas Dram Shop laws, a bar, restaurant, or alcoholic beverage provider may be sued if they serve alcohol to an obviously intoxicated individual. Importantly this standard only concerns whether a person looks intoxicated and not a person’s BAC. Learn more. 

• Can police help a drunk person? Yes, police are allowed to assist drunk people in a variety of different contexts including getting them home. However, police will make an arrest if any apparent laws are broken. As a practical matter, some officers may just arrest drunk individuals for Public Intoxication or Disorderly Conduct rather than providing any meaningful assistance. It is advised that intoxicated individuals not unnecessarily invite police attention or aggravate law enforcement.

• What is the penal code for drunk in public? Texas Penal Code 49.02 provides the authority for Public Intoxication. Pursuant to this law: 

  “A person commits an offense if the person appears in a public place while intoxicated to the degree that the person may endanger the person or another.” 

  This offense is a class C misdemeanor punishable by a maximum $500 fine. Learn more.

WHY DO COPS ASK IF YOU’VE BEEN DRINKING?

Police ask this question when they notice other signs of intoxication like the odor of intoxicants, slurred speech, glassy, bloodshot eyes, or erratic driving behavior. This question is a common indicator that a person is under investigation for an intoxication offense. A person should politely ask if they are free to leave, and limit any further communication and interaction with police with the understanding that police are recording the entire encounter for prosecution purposes. Learn more.

• How do police know if you are drunk? Police receive special training to assess and investigate intoxication. They are trained to investigate such clues as glassy, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, the odor of intoxicants, and difficulties with divided-attention tasks. Intoxication suspects are advised to refuse tests and limit interaction with law enforcement as best practice to beat a criminal charge. Learn more.

PUBLIC INTOXICATION LAWYER IN THE WOODLANDS | MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEXAS

Trey Porter Law represents individuals seeking to expunge criminal records in The Woodlands and Montgomery County, as well as the surrounding areas of Spring, Conroe, Katy, Sugar Land, Bellaire, West University Place, and Houston.

Trey Porter Law stands up for the citizen accused. From students to teachers, veterans to first responders, and professionals across varied industries and disciplines, TPL brings a results-oriented & client-focused approach to solving complex problems.

Trey Porter is a Texas SuperLawyer, nationally recognized as a dynamic advocate in Criminal Defense. Voted by his peers as a best lawyer in the field of Criminal and DWI Defense every year since 2015, Mr. Porter holds a Superb rating from AVVO, where attorneys are rated based on skillful litigation, client satisfaction, peer endorsements, and positive results. Learn more.

THE WOODLANDS PUBLIC INTOXICATION RESOURCES

Access to information is important when dealing with a criminal charge. The following entities play an important role in the criminal justice system in The Woodlands. For more information, visit the Montgomery County, Texas website.

• Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office
  
  207 W. Phillips, 2nd Floor
  
  Conroe, TX 77301
  
  Phone: (936) 539-7800
  
  Email: da.info@mctx.org

• Montgomery County Sheriff
  
  #1 Criminal Justice Dr.
  
  Conroe, Texas 77301
  
  Phone (936) 760-5800
  
  Jail: Montgomery County Inmate Search

• Montgomery County Clerk
  
  210 West Davis
  
  Conroe, Texas 77301
  
  Phone: (936) 539-7885
  
  Email: countyclerk@mctx.org

• Montgomery County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1
  
  Willis Location
  
  300 South Danville
  
  Willis, Texas 77378
  
  Phone: (936) 539-7801
  
  
  
  Montgomery Location
  
  19380 Highway 105 West, Ste 507
  
  Montgomery, Texas 77356
  
  Phone: (936) 788-8374

• Montgomery County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2
  
  2241 North 1st Street
  
  Conroe, Texas  77301
  
  Phone: (936) 538-3788

• Montgomery County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3
  
  1520 Lake Front Circle, Suite 100
  
  The Woodlands, Texas  77380
  
  Phone: (281) 364-4284

• Montgomery County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4
  
  22354 Justice Drive
  
  New Caney, Texas  77357
  
  Phone: (281) 577-8970

• Montgomery County Justice of the Peace Precinct 5
  
  19100 Unity Park Drive
  
  Magnolia, Texas  77355
  
  Phone: (281) 259-6494