Losing your license after a DWI doesn’t have to mean losing your ability to get to work, school, or the grocery store. Texas allows judges to grant an occupational license that lets you keep driving under specific restrictions while your regular license is suspended.
How an Occupational License Works
- It’s a court order, not a DPS approval. A judge grants it, with specific restrictions on when, where, and why you can drive.
- Typical restrictions. Limited to essential household duties, work, school, and often capped at a certain number of hours per day.
- Waiting periods apply. Depending on the number of prior DWI convictions, there can be a mandatory waiting period before you’re even eligible to apply.
- Ignition interlock is usually required. Most occupational licenses tied to a DWI come with a mandatory interlock device on any vehicle you drive.
Why the Application Has to Be Precise
The petition has to establish essential need, and the restrictions have to be specific enough for a judge to feel comfortable granting it. A poorly drafted application gets denied or granted with restrictions too narrow to actually help you keep working.
Need to Keep Driving After a DWI? Contact Blass Law Now
Contact Blass Law for a confidential case evaluation or call (713)-664-4000. Losing your license shouldn’t mean losing your job.