'No Refusal' DWI Effort Begins Friday

Friday is the first night of the extended DWI Enforcement Initiative—a no-refusal effort enabling police to draw blood if needed to determine driver intoxication.

Austin Police Department Chief Art Acevedo unveiled the plan Thursday during a press conference. Through the holiday season, police will be able to immediately obtain a warrant for a blood draw on suspects refusing a Breathalyzer test to determine if they’re drunk.

The effort comes at a time when Austin is on track to reach its 100th traffic fatality, a new record that’s been consistently broken since September.

There have been 87 traffic crashes that have resulted in 95 fatalities so far this year, compared to 61 fatalities in the same period last year.

“This year is sadly proving to be one of the bloodiest in many, many years,” Acevedo said at Thursday’s press conference. The DWI Initiative—also dubbed “Arrive Alive”—is an effort to stem the tide, he said.

The program kicks off at 9 p.m. Friday, ending Jan. 3 at 5 a.m.

The goal: “Not one more person ends up in intensive care, not one person ends up in the morgue, not one person ends up in jail for making poor choices like drinking and driving,” the chief said.

So by all means, enjoy the holidays. Have fun out there. But more importantly, be safe.