HOUSTON -- Houston Mayor Bill White's teenage daughter was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, officials told KPRC Local 2 Tuesday.

Elena Wells White, 17, was arrested in the 9800 block of Memorial Drive at about 11 p.m. Monday, according to Frank Michel, a spokesman for the mayor.

A Harris County deputy constable arrested White about a mile from her home, Michel said.

Officials said White's Toyota Prius was pulled over because her headlights were not on.

"The car was being operated on a public street without any lights on and was not staying in a single lane of traffic," said Assistant Chief Leroy Michna with Harris County Constables Precinct 5.

She failed a field sobriety test and refused a Breathalyzer test, deputies said. They described her as cooperative.

White was released from jail at about 10 a.m. after posting $500 bond.

"If there's a problem violating the law, we don't dodge it in our family. We own up to it. But, if there was a mistake by the officer, then we'll have to look at that," Bill White said.

"I've learned a lot and I'm really glad to see my parents," Elena said as she walked out of jail.

"We're proud of our daughter," Bill White said. "We love her. She's a great kid. She violated family rule. You pay the consequences. It's good that there was impartial justice."

The mayor elaborated on the incident at a later, unrelated news conference.

"My daughter believes that she was not intoxicated and was not dangerous and wouldn't be impaired in her condition to drive," he said. "We'll be reviewing tapes and what the evidence is about that.

"I think there was a mistake, based on what she's told me," Bill White said. "And she's always shot straight with me."

Rusty Hardin, a high-profile Houston attorney representing Elena White, said he is confident the teen will be absolved.

"I'm comfortable, when everything is known, that we're going to find that she was not intoxicated," Hardin said. "I also hope everybody reserves judgment until they hear all the evidence."

Bill White said she was driving his hybrid gasoline-electric car, on which the lights do not turn on automatically.

"She's not a party animal," White said. "You can tell by her grades, you can tell what she does when she's not in school."

Elena White was working full time until last Friday as a volunteer math teacher in a summer program for seventh graders. Bill White said Tuesday she was about to start a training program for running nonprofits.

"We're a family that believes if somebody does something, they ought to take responsibility for their actions," White said. "Based on what I have heard, I think it may have been a mistake."

"If everybody treats her fairly and doesn't think she's going to get special treatment they'll find out this is not quite as it first appeared," Hardin said.

Elena is scheduled for a court appearance on Aug. 8.

A first-offense DWI is classified as a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. The offender's license can also be revoked for up to one year.