Post by mikessex on Dec 17, 2008 23:23:23 GMT -5
www.kfdm.com/news/night_29174___article.html/seven_stops.html
I'm not sure if I agree with an officer bringing someone in that passes a sobriety test and refuses to blow, but apparently they are doing this in the local area.
be safe guys
DPS books seven during 'No Refusal' night
Comments 27 | Recommend 1
December 13, 2008 - 5:03 PM
Ashley Rodrigue
After nine hours and a hundred traffic stops, the Texas Department of Transportation took seven suspected drunk drivers off of Jefferson County roadways last night. The arrests were part of the 'No Refusal' effort to keep drivers refusing Breathalyzer tests from getting out of a DWI conviction.
Lights... Check... Arrested. That's how Friday night played out for suspected drunk drivers in Jefferson County.
DPS Sgt. Chuck Havard said, "We're concentrating on any violation we see, we're trying to stop it and obviously we're targeting DWI drivers, or any other violation that's going to contribute to an accident."
The Texas Department of Public Safety made the arrests during the 'No Refusal Night' event. The program allowed troopers who make DWI arrests to bring the suspect to the Jefferson County Jail if that person refused a breathalyzer test.
And 'instead', a judge and assistant district attorney were on hand to sign a search warrant .. to allow blood to be drawn to determine if the person was intoxicated.
Havard said, "We see that a lot, people, they don't want to voluntarily submit to a specimen, but obviously, if we have hard evidence, the case is a lot easier to prosecute."
Of the one hundred stops made between 6 p.m. and 3 a.m., seven were arrested on DWI charges. Of the 'seven', one refusal ended in a warrant for a blood sample. One of the drivers put behind bars last night, was a second offender.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the group that started the 'No Refusal' campaign, say those results are worth the effort.
M.A.D.D. member Kathy Bell-Schexnaider said, "A majority of your cases, your juries want it, your juries want video, so if we've got to do it this way to get the evidence the juries want to get the convictions, then that's what they should be able to do."
D.P.S. says the campaign not only makes prosecutions easier, it's easier to save lives, livelihoods 'and' families... and in the end that's the main goal.
"We hope to send the message that not only can't you afford a DWI, you can't refuse it."
This is the second year the D.P.S. has teamed up with M.A.D.D. to hold this event in Southeast Texas.
Comments 27 | Recommend 1
December 13, 2008 - 5:03 PM
Ashley Rodrigue
After nine hours and a hundred traffic stops, the Texas Department of Transportation took seven suspected drunk drivers off of Jefferson County roadways last night. The arrests were part of the 'No Refusal' effort to keep drivers refusing Breathalyzer tests from getting out of a DWI conviction.
Lights... Check... Arrested. That's how Friday night played out for suspected drunk drivers in Jefferson County.
DPS Sgt. Chuck Havard said, "We're concentrating on any violation we see, we're trying to stop it and obviously we're targeting DWI drivers, or any other violation that's going to contribute to an accident."
The Texas Department of Public Safety made the arrests during the 'No Refusal Night' event. The program allowed troopers who make DWI arrests to bring the suspect to the Jefferson County Jail if that person refused a breathalyzer test.
And 'instead', a judge and assistant district attorney were on hand to sign a search warrant .. to allow blood to be drawn to determine if the person was intoxicated.
Havard said, "We see that a lot, people, they don't want to voluntarily submit to a specimen, but obviously, if we have hard evidence, the case is a lot easier to prosecute."
Of the one hundred stops made between 6 p.m. and 3 a.m., seven were arrested on DWI charges. Of the 'seven', one refusal ended in a warrant for a blood sample. One of the drivers put behind bars last night, was a second offender.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the group that started the 'No Refusal' campaign, say those results are worth the effort.
M.A.D.D. member Kathy Bell-Schexnaider said, "A majority of your cases, your juries want it, your juries want video, so if we've got to do it this way to get the evidence the juries want to get the convictions, then that's what they should be able to do."
D.P.S. says the campaign not only makes prosecutions easier, it's easier to save lives, livelihoods 'and' families... and in the end that's the main goal.
"We hope to send the message that not only can't you afford a DWI, you can't refuse it."
This is the second year the D.P.S. has teamed up with M.A.D.D. to hold this event in Southeast Texas.
I'm not sure if I agree with an officer bringing someone in that passes a sobriety test and refuses to blow, but apparently they are doing this in the local area.
be safe guys