Texas Troopers Make More Than 1,800 DWI Arrests Over Holiday Weekend
It was recently announced that there were more than 1,800 DWI arrests by Texas Department of Public Safety troopers during a DWI crackdown which included last Labor Day weekend. Unfortunately for those arrested, they likely spent more time in police custody instead of Labor Day barbeques.
Labor Day Weekend Dwi Enforcement
Specifically, the crackdown – which ran from August 19 through September 5 – resulted in 1,859 DWI arrests in Texas, according to a news release from the Texas Department of Public Safety. The release also noted that 524 of these DWI arrests could be directly attributed to additional patrol hours. The crackdown was partially funded by a Texas Department of Transportation grant which helped pay for the additional patrol hours.
In addition to the DWI arrests, troopers cited motorists for nearly 25,000 speeding tickets and more than 3,800 child safety seat and seat belt tickets. The crackdown also led to 1,190 fugitive arrests and 877 felony arrests.
DWI Penalties In Texas>
If anything, the recent DWI crackdown by Texas troopers shows just how seriously Texas law enforcement is taking drinking and driving. Their zealous attempts to catch intoxicated drivers will likely continue to result in countless DWI arrests – arrests that carry potentially severe consequences.
If arrested and charged with a DWI in Texas, a person needs to act quickly since they only have 15 days to request a hearing after receiving a notice of license suspension. The notice is usually given to the accused on the day of their arrest, and since a request for a hearing must be in writing, there is no time to waste. If an accused fails to request a hearing, their license is automatically suspended.
In additional to license suspension, those charged with a DWI in Texas face a host of other possible penalties if convicted, including:
- Possible jail time
- Fines
- Community service hours
- Forfeiture or immobilization of motor vehicle
- Probation
- Alcohol treatment
If convicted, motorists who drink and drive will also have a criminal record – which can limit job opportunities – and they may experience higher insurance rates. Given these potentially long-term and harsh penalties associated with DWI convictions in Texas, it is more important than ever to contact an experienced DWI defense attorney if facing drinking and driving charges. An attorney can provide helpful advice for your particular circumstances and assist in protecting your rights.