It's another "No Refusal" weekend

[editor]

DA's "No Refusal" Program to Target Weekend DWI Motorists

Houston, Tx - The Harris County District Attorney's Office will deploy the "No Refusal"

Program during the Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend to target intoxicated drivers countywide,

District Attorney Patricia Lykos announced Wednesday.

Law enforcement patrols, testing units and prosecutors team up to get search warrants for

mandatory blood samples from intoxicated motorists who decline requests to voluntarily provide them. Under state law enacted this year, these mandatory tests for intoxicants no longer require warrants in certain situations.

Brent Mayr, a prosecutor assigned to the District Attorney's Vehicular Crimes Section, said the "No Refusal" operation means DWI offenders cannot try to evade prosecution by refusing tests to determine intoxicant levels.

Recent "No Refusal" operations have confirmed the success and need for the program. A

Labor Day weekend deployment resulted in 191 DWI-related arrests, including 20 for repeat

offenses. During the Fourth of July period, the program gained DWI charges against 337

motorists.

Mayr explained that the Thanksgiving weekend deployment is designed to effectively enforce

DWI laws to get intoxicated drivers off the street, to make the high-volume traffic period safer for families and the rest of the traveling public. The program will kick-off Friday night and continue through the holiday weekend.

[editor]

DWI Arrests Soar in Second Week of DA's No Refusal Program

Houston, Tx - The DWI arrests increased dramatically during Week Two of the continuing District Attorney's Holiday No Refusal Program, District Attorney Patricia Lykos announced Tuesday.

Latest statistics from the District Attorney's program, which targets impaired driving throughout Harris County, showed 123 DWI-related charges during the initial deployment from Dec. 10-13. Last week's operation, from Dec. 17-20, resulted in 189 charges - an increase of more than 50 percent.

"As we get closer to Christmas itself, and New Year's Eve, we're definitely seeing a jump in DWI-related offenses," said Catherine Evans, Chief of the District Attorney's Vehicular Crimes Section.

At the mid-point of the No Refusal enforcement operation, Evans said it is more important than ever for the traveling public to be aware of the dangers of intoxicated driving.

"Act responsibly during these holidays," Evans said. "There are many safe options - you can use a designated driver, or a cab or public transportation. Remember that, with the incidents of accidents and fatal crashes, the consequences of drinking and driving can be much more profound than even a DWI arrest."

The Holiday No Refusal Program, which operates in coordination with the Houston Police Department, will continue from Dec. 25-27 and from Dec. 31-Jan. 3. Law enforcement officers, prosecutors and medical personnel team up to secure search warrants for mandatory blood samples taken from suspected intoxicated drivers who refuse to be tested voluntarily for intoxicating substances.

Coupled with the earlier deployment over the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend, there have been a total of 450 DWI-related charges. Of those, 81 involved search warrants for mandatory testing.