Austin Police Plan Extended, 'No Refusal' Initiative To Combat Holiday Drunk Driving

AUSTIN, TX — The Austin Police Department announced on Wednesday it will kick off its extended DWI initiative for the Christmas/New Year's Day holiday period, with enforcement beginning on Thursday.

The extended initiative will be a "no refusal" variety, meaning that those drivers not willing voluntarily submit to sobriety checks will be subjected to forced blood draws obtained on the spot via bench warrants from municipal judges.

The initiative will start on Dec. 15 at 9 p.m. and run until Jan. 1, 2017, ending at 5 a.m., police said.

The DWI initiative is an effort to curb drunk driving in keeping the public safe, the APD said. To that end, those refusing to give a breath or blood specimen as required by law will undergo forced checks, police added.

"This holiday period is often associated with parties and gatherings in which alcohol is present," police said in a statement. "This initiative is to remind everyone that their area law enforcement agencies encourage them to make the responsible choice not to drive if they are impaired in any way, Know before you go, get home safe."

The holiday season is among the deadliest on Texas roads. According to Texas Department of Transportation officials, there were 2,374 alcohol-related traffic crashes throughout the state, resulting in 102 fatalities and 205 serious injuries during the 2015-16 holiday season from Dec. 1, 2015 to Jan. 1, 2016.

The numbers were significant, though slightly less than the previous season. From 2014-15 comparable period, there were 2,417 alcohol-related traffic crashes in Texas, yielding 112 fatalisties and 192 serious injuries.

The drop represents a 9 percent decrease, TxDot officials noted.

"We want to continue this trend," officials wrote on their website. "Texans can help make the holidays merry and bright all season long by remembering to make a plan to get home safely before the festivities begin."

A specialized web portal titled SoberRides.org was established to ensure people arrive to their destination safely, eliminating the option of driving while intoxicated. The site helps plan rides home before the holiday parties begin to avoid, short of tragedy, fines of up to $17,000 and loss of driver's license.

"Remember, it’s the most wonderful time of the year, but one poor decision to drink and drive could bring a devastating end to holiday celebrations," TxDot officials remind. "Plan While You Can this holiday season so you don’t Drink. Drive. Go To Jail."

To those not getting the message with mere words, TxDot has produced videos that powerfully illustrate the dangers of drunk driving. Some are hard to watch, but remind us that no one is immune from tragedy in drinking and driving.

And in Spanish:

The SoberRides.org website offers a number of sources to secure a ride, including cab service and limos. Not listed is public transportation, which offers reliable service at a nominal cost. At the local Capital Metro website, one inputs the addresses of both point of origin and destination to get specific information related to bus stop and time of trip among other details.

Cap Metro is another option people should consider in getting to and from their holiday parties. Visit the Cap Metro site by clicking here.

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