KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
May 29, 2021
By Natalie Cook Clark
Fort Bend County Sheriff Office Deputies will be out in full force this Memorial Weekend to protect the roads against impaired drivers. This weekend, anyone who refuses breath testing will be subject to blood testing for alcohol consumption.
Drivers Cannot Refuse Breath Tests
The Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office launched a new law enforcement tactic effective this weekend called “No Refusal Weekend” prevent suspected impaired drivers caught by Fort Bend County Sheriff Office deputies from refusing breath testing.
A Major Public Safety Threat
“Driving While Intoxicated remains a major public safety threat that claims thousands of innocent lives on our highways each year,” says Sheriff Eric Fagan. “No Refusal Weekends is just one more step in reducing impaired driving-related fatalities and serious automobile accidents in our county.”
Adding Additional Patrols
Additional patrols will also be out on the streets ensuring everyone’s safety.
Since last Memorial Day weekend on May 27, 2020, there have been 305 DWI incidents in Fort Bend County.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 10,142 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in the United States in 2019. Approximately one-third of all U.S. traffic crash fatalities involve drunk drivers.
Anyone driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter or higher is considered legally impaired. Many impaired drivers refuse to submit BAC testing in an attempt to avoid or get reduced criminal sanctions.
The “No Refusal Weekend” is designed to address the issue of BAC test refusals. FBCSO and other law enforcement agencies work in coordination with prosecutors and judges to quickly obtain “blood draw warrants” for drivers who refuse BAC testing.
Testing Done to Secure Evidence
With the approval of a judge, anyone suspected of impaired driving who unlawfully refuses to provide a breath sample is subject to blood testing at the scene, a medical facility, or the closest jail facility.
This is done to best ensure that prosecutors obtain the scientific evidence needed to effectively pursue cases involving impaired driving.
No Refusal initiative established by the District Attorney’s Office is funded by a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation.
Memorial Day is Monday and Katy families will be out around the city this weekend. Stay safe and remember the true reason for the holiday by honoring those the gave their lives for our freedom.
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