Chapter 12
Punishment Instructions
12.33 Instruction—Misdemeanor Driving While Intoxicated—Enhanced—Alcohol Concentration at or above 0.15— Open Container Accusation (Plea of True)
You have found the defendant, [name], guilty of driving while intoxicated with a [blood/breath/urine] alcohol concentration level of 0.15 or more. The state has accused the defendant of being in possession of an open container of alcohol.
The defendant has pleaded that this accusation is “true.”
Relevant Statutes—Punishment If Accusation of Open Container Proved “True”
If the state proves the accusation of an open container is true, this offense is punishable by—
- a term of confinement in the county jail for no less than six days and no more than one year, or
- a term of confinement in the county jail for no less than six days and no more than one year and a fine of no more than $4,000.
Definitions
Open Container
“Open container” means a bottle, can, or other receptacle that contains any amount of alcoholic beverage and that is open, that has been opened, that has a broken seal, or the contents of which are partially removed.
Alcoholic Beverage
“Alcoholic beverage” means alcohol, or any beverage containing more than one-half of one percent of alcohol by volume, which is capable of use for beverage purposes, either alone or when diluted.
Burden of Proof
The state must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, the open container accusation.
Application of Law to Facts
You must determine whether the state has proved, beyond a reasonable doubt, two elements of its accusation of an open container. The elements are that—
- the defendant had an open container of an alcoholic beverage in his immediate possession, and
- the defendant did this at the time of driving while intoxicated with a [blood/breath/urine] alcohol concentration level of 0.15 or more.
The defendant has pleaded “true” to the open container accusation and admits both elements listed above. You must find that the state has proved, beyond a rea-sonable doubt, the open container accusation is “true.” You are to determine and state in your verdict—
- the term of confinement in the county jail to be imposed on the defen-dant for no less than six days and no more than one year, or
- the term of confinement in the county jail to be imposed on the defen-dant for no less than six days and no more than one year and a fine of no more than $4,000.
VERDICT
We, the jury, having found the defendant, [name], guilty of the offense of [offense], find that the accusation of an open container has been proved true. We assess the defendant’s punishment at: (select one)
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Comment
Punishment for driving while intoxicated with an alcohol concentration level of 0.15 or above is set out in Tex. Penal Code § 49.04(d). Punishment for driving while intoxicated with a proved accusation of possession of an open container is set out in Tex. Penal Code § 49.04(c).
The definition of “open container” is from Tex. Penal Code § 49.031(a)(1). The definition of “alcoholic beverage” is from Tex. Alco. Bev. Code § 1.04(1), incorporated into the Penal Code at Tex. Penal Code § 1.07(a)(4).