Will Texas Ever Eliminate DWI Jury Trials?
How would the citizens of Texas feel if the right to jury trials for a DWI no longer existed?Currently, the state of Arizona is set to join several other states like Louisiana and Hawaii that do not provide jury trial for first time DWI offenders. I find it hard to believe why a state would abridge someone's right to a jury trial when they are facing the possibility that they could end up in jail. I guess those states are putting dollars before citizen's. I find it difficult to imagine the day that Texas no longer allows its citizens a jury trial after they are arrested for a DWI. We live in a state where a citizen has the right to a trial before a jury when they are accused of a traffic violation. How awkward would be if that was the case. Jury trials for a traffic ticket is guaranteed where the worst possible outcome is a fine, but if you get arrested for a DWI facing time in jail, a license suspension, and several thousand dollars in surcharges you are not entitled to a jury trial. Hopefully, this never happens in our state.