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Earlier, Rangel was twice cited for driving while intoxicated, once on November 27, 1999, prior to his JP service, and again in a February 15, 2007, while he was driving on Texas Highway 359.<ref name=wikibin>{{cite web|url=http://wikibin.org/articles/ricardo-rangel.html|title=Richardo Rangel|publisher=Wikibin.org|accessdate=February 24, 2020}}</ref> The first DWI resulted in a [[plea bargain]]. by which Rangel admitted guilt to public intoxication. In the second case, Rangel was pulled over for a defective taillight. He failed a field sobriety test and refused a Breathalyzer at the Webb County jail, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The refusal to take the Breathalyzer test, which is designed to measure the level of alcohol in the body brought a six-month revocation of the individual's driver's license. Rangel's attorney, Alonzo Ramos of Laredo, said that the JP did not fail the sobriety test but relayed an "apology" from Rangel to "his constituents and the people of Webb County." Ramos denied that his client was under the influence of alcohol when he was stopped by police and added that Rangel is "just waiting for day in court."<ref name=wikibin/>

Earlier, Rangel was twice cited for driving while intoxicated, once on November 27, 1999, prior to his JP service, and again in a February 15, 2007, while he was driving on Texas Highway 359.<ref name=wikibin>{{cite web|url=http://wikibin.org/articles/ricardo-rangel.html|title=Richardo Rangel|publisher=Wikibin.org|accessdate=February 24, 2020}}</ref> The first DWI resulted in a [[plea bargain]]. by which Rangel admitted guilt to public intoxication. In the second case, Rangel was pulled over for a defective taillight. He failed a field sobriety test and refused a Breathalyzer at the Webb County jail, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The refusal to take the Breathalyzer test, which is designed to measure the level of alcohol in the body brought a six-month revocation of the individual's driver's license. Rangel's attorney, Alonzo Ramos of Laredo, said that the JP did not fail the sobriety test but relayed an "apology" from Rangel to "his constituents and the people of Webb County." Ramos denied that his client was under the influence of alcohol when he was stopped by police and added that Rangel is "just waiting for day in court."<ref name=wikibin/>

A second-offense DWI is a Class A misdemeanor in Texas and usually nets a fine of up to $4,000 and a jail term of up to twelve months. A first-time offender faces the Class B misdemeanor charge, which usually means a $2,000 fine and up to six months in the county jail. Rangel was the second JP in Laredo to have been arrested for DWI in the five-month period prior to February 2007. Democratic JP [[Hector Liendo]] in Precinct 1 was arrested for DWI and being in possession of an open alcoholic container in September 2006. Liendo managed to survive the political fallout from the DWI and retires from the JP court on January 1, 2021.

A second-offense DWI is a Class A misdemeanor in Texas and usually nets a fine of up to $4,000 and a jail term of up to twelve months. A first-time offender faces the Class B misdemeanor charge, which usually means a $2,000 fine and up to six months in the county jail.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sugarlandcriminallawyers.com/dwi/penalties/|title=What are the Texas DWI Penalties & Fines?|publisher=Sugarlandcriminallawyers.com|accessdate=February 25, 2020}}</ref>

 

Rangel was the second JP in Laredo to have been arrested for DWI in the five-month period prior to February 2007. Democratic JP [[Hector Liendo]] in Precinct 1 was arrested for DWI and being in possession of an open alcoholic container in September 2006. Liendo managed to survive the political fallout from the DWI and retires from the JP court on January 1, 2021.

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