Harris County made a big push at the end of 2023 to crack down on drunk driving. Working across several agencies, the county focused on getting intoxicated drivers off the road in the lead up to the holiday. And, according to KHOU 11, they had good success. Police arrested 213 people on New Year’s Eve weekend for suspected drunk driving, with many of those arrested being felons who had previous DWIs or child passengers in the car. About 100 of those arrested were in Houston.
The Numbers for the End of 2023
The Harris County prosecutor put a “no refusal” policy in effect for the weekend. Prosecutors in the field could write warrants and submit them to a judge on duty, which made it easy to get a blood draw. A blood sample is the best method of finding a motorist’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
The approach paid off. According to Fox 26 Houston, here are some of the numbers:
- December 28. There were 7 no-refusal blood warrants and 58 DWI charges, with 44 being first time offenders and 8 being felony charges for a third offense.
- December 29. There were 23 no-refusal blood warrants and 36 DWI arrests, including 29 for first offenses, 5 for second offense, and 2 for third offense.
- December 30. There were 15 no-refusal blood warrants, along with 86 DWI arrests. Four were for felonies involving a child passenger.
Unfortunately for those caught, they face the prospect of potential time in jail if convicted, which is a terrible way to start of 2024. With a positive blood test, defendants have an uphill climb trying to prove they are innocent or even negotiate a generous plea deal. Call The Law Offices of Tad Nelson as soon as possible so we can review all evidence.
Not Letting Up in 2024
Last year was a rough one for public safety. Houston PD executed more than 5,000 arrests for DWI. According to Harris County District Attorney, Kim Ogg, there were 11,800 DWI charges filed in 2023 for the entire county.
Houston drivers shouldn’t expect Texas to let up on their fight against drunk driving in 2024. Although Houston PD might not have a no refusal policy in place every weekend, the state is still being aggressive at deterring people from committing DWI.
For example, Texas passed Bentley’s Law late last year. This law will require that a defendant convicted of intoxication manslaughter should pay child support when the person they kill has minor children. One mistake could lead to decades of mandatory support payments, which can shred your credit if you try to avoid them.
Expert DWI Defense in Houston
If you were arrested, call Tad Nelson today. Our firm is prepared to do everything possible to help those facing DWI charges. Even if you gave a blood sample, there are certain defenses which might help you cast doubt on the state’s evidence. Call our firm to get individualized advice about your circumstances and discuss whether you should fight the charges.
