Research Shows No Refusal DWI Initiative Days Ineffective — Austin, Texas to Increase Enforcement
Apr 19, 2018
Brooks Schuelke, Esq.
Schuelke Law PLLC
Austin, TX (Law Firm Newswire) April 19, 2018 – Inebriated driving is a serious problem in Texas, so much so, that police have implemented No Refusal DWI Initiative days in an attempt to prevent people from drinking and driving.
In Austin, No Refusal days usually run holidays and weekends, with police able to obtain warrants to draw blood for drivers refusing sobriety tests during a DWI stop. This year, the Austin Police Department will start No Refusal days in the middle of the afternoon, during 2018’s South by Southwest (SXSW) to catch intoxicated drivers. The No Refusal days initiative began in 2005.
In fact, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) began disbursing grants to law enforcement agencies and over the past ten years has handed out over $410 million on various anti intoxicated driving programs. Most of the funds, which come from the federal government, are used on DWI campaigns and given to police departments asking for No Refusal days grants for more resources and staff. In 2017, the Austin Police Department received federal support funds of about $1.5 million for 142 No Refusal days — a record number of enforcement days.
Some research indicates that DWI crashes are actually higher on No Refusal days than during a regular day. For instance, 2017 data showed a 42 percent increase in DWI collisions on No Refusal days when compared to days when the campaign was not enforced. “This begs the question of whether or not No Refusal days are working,” pointed out Austin wrongful death attorney, Brooks Schuelke. Austin Police however feel No Refusal days are effective and more drivers are consenting to breath and blood testing.
According to a TxDOT study to evaluate No Refusal day’s effectiveness, the results were not clear and the Director of the Center for Alcohol & Drug Education Studies at Texas A&M, Troy Walden stated, “I think the jury’s still out.”
“The long and short of these No Refusal days is that there still needs to be more research to determine how effective they are,” added Schuelke. “In the meantime, if they make a difference, then they are important for the community.”
For those who have been involved in a fatal collision with a drunk driver, it is best to speak with an experienced wrongful death attorney about filing a lawsuit. In situations like that, the criminal charges would move forward first, while the civil wrongful death lawsuit could follow.
Learn more at http://www.civtrial.com
Schuelke Law PLLC
3011 N. Lamar Blvd
Ste. 200
Austin, TX 78705
Call (512) 476-4944
- Uber Self-Driving Car Fatality – A Follow Up
Last week, I had a post outlining the potential legal claims arising from the Uber self-driving car fatality in Arizona. I wanted to update it, because there have been several new articles that have come out that back up my analysis about those who might have potential responsibility. First, I noted that a potential defendant […] - Uber Self-Driving Car Death — A Potential Law School Exam Question
By now, you’ve probably heard about the death that resulted from a car wreck involving an Uber self-driving car. The tragic facts surrounding the wreck would make a great law school exam question. What do I mean by that? In law school, exam questions were designed to present as many complicating issues in a case […] - Three Things That Are Going To Annoy You About Your Personal Injury Case
I wish I could tell you that your personal injury case will go exactly how you like it and as smooth as you like it. But form doing this for over twenty years, I know there are at least three things that you’re going to frustrated about at some point. 1. THE TIME IT TAKES […]
