24 Holiday Arrests Recorded for Texas DWI in Austin

The ‘no refusal’ blood draw involved with half of those arrested.

The Austin Police Department arrested 24 motorists for driving while intoxicated in Texas on New Year’s Eve. Eleven of those arrested submitted to a breath test, one voluntarily provided a blood sample and 12 had their blood drawn under a no refusal policy. For those who refused a breath test, police received search warrants from a judge that forced the motorist to have their blood drawn. The blood draws were conducted at the Travis County Jail by a trained phlebotomist. The average blood alcohol content of those arrested was .16%, which is twice the legal threshold for intoxication in Texas.

During the drunk driving crackdown, police patrolled the streets accompanied by a mobile breath testing bus. The effort started at 9 pm New Year’s Eve and ended at 5 am New Year’s Day.

Police Chief Art Acevedo has reported that alcohol related deaths fell in the last year. Alcohol is now involved in 37% of all traffic fatalities in Austin.

Have you been arrested for DWI in Austin, Texas?