Alcohol, Drugs & Texas Penalties/GDL
Texas enforces strict intoxication limits and a graduated licensing program for new drivers.
Intoxication limits
A driver 21 or older is legally intoxicated at 0.08% BAC, and a commercial driver at 0.04%. Texas has zero tolerance for minors: a driver under 21 may not drive with any detectable amount of alcohol.
Graduated (GDL) restrictions
In the first 12 months of a provisional license, a driver under 18 may not carry more than one passenger under 21 who is not family, and may not drive from midnight to 5 a.m. except for work, school, or a medical emergency. Drivers under 18 may not use a wireless device while driving.
Penalties
Driving while intoxicated brings fines, possible jail, and license suspension, with harsher penalties for repeat offenses. Refusing a breath or blood test can lead to an automatic license suspension.