Texas motorists who live in or who have the occasion to travel through Montgomery County should know that local officials are taking steps to reduce the number of cases and fatalities that result from drunk driving. Attorneys, local law enforcement and members of the legislature are considering a variety of options, such as stiffer consequences for driving while intoxicated and a specialized task force to combat DWIs.
In Montgomery County, between 2,000 and 2,500 DWI cases are filed every year, making it the county’s largest criminal offense category. According to 2015 data collected by the Texas Transportation Institute, there were 624 crashes caused by DUIs and 21 crashes that resulted in fatalities. There have been 153 fatal DUI traffic accidents in the county since 2010.
Drivers in Texas who are at least 21 years of age and have a blood alcohol content level more than 0.08 can be charged with a DWI. Drivers younger than 21 can be charged with a DUI if there is any detectable alcohol in their system.
Multiple factors may be contributing to Montgomery County’s high number of DWI incidents. These can range from environmental infrastructure to social reasons. According to one official, a significant number of DWIs are crashes involving a single vehicle and a driver that is killed when he or she veers off a two-lane road and strikes a tree, where in other counties, there are not as many roadside trees or other objects a vehicle can hit.
Individuals who are suspected of drunk driving should consult with a criminal defense attorney. The attorney may examine the factors surrounding a client’s traffic stop, alcohol testing and arrest and determine if the procedures were conducted in accordance with the law.
