Collin County, Texas wants to expand its no-refusal policy for taking blood samples in suspected Texas DWI cases. The county has previously experimented with the program during the holidays, and now wants to make it standard procedure in all traffic stops for suspicion of drunk driving.

Under Texas law, a motorist has the right to refuse to submit to a breath or blood test. The blood testing program uses warrants, signed by a judge, to demand and, if necessary, physically take a blood sample. Texas DWI defense attorneys argue that infringes on an individual

The Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office has received a state grant to fund efforts to catch drivers suspected of driving under the influence in California.

A $662,000 grant will be distributed over a three year period to help fund the county’s ‘Avoid The 25’ program, which targets drunk drivers through increased enforcement activities. The program name comes from the combined California DUI effort of the county’s 25 law enforcement agencies. Its efforts include roaming DUI patrols and sobriety checkpoints. The grant will also pay for a public awareness campaign about the consequences and dangers of drunk driving in California.

A separate grant of $620,115 was given to the Contra Costa County Probation Department to fund programs targeting felony California DUI offenders. According to county statistics, law enforcement agencies arrested more than 600 motorists for DUI offenses in December 2007 alone.

If you have arrested for DUI in Contra Costa County, California you will need to hire a DUI lawyer in Contra Costa.

Kenny Stabler, a former NFL quarterback and current University of Alabama broadcaster, was arrested for driving under the influence in Alabama. The native of Foley, Alabama was pulled over for a traffic violation around 1:00 am Sunday morning.

Stabler was booked on suspicion of drunk driving in Robertson, Alabama, and released after posting $1,000 bail.

Stabler has been arrested for DUI twice before, in 1995 and 2001. In the latter case, he entered a plea that allowed him to avoid drug possession and reckless driving offenses.

Stabler, whose nickname was ‘Snake’, played for Bear Bryant at Alabama, where he lead the team to an 11-0 record in 1966. He won a Super Bowl with the Oakland Raiders in 1977, was later traded to the Houston Oilers and finished his pro career with the New Orleans Saints.

If you have been arrested for DUI in Alabama you will need to hire a qualified Alabama DUI lawyer.

Arlington police opened fire on a motorist suspected of driving while intoxicated in Tarrant County Texas. Officers attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Eduardo Diaz around 11:30 pm for a traffic violation. Diaz failed to stop for police lights and sirens and he eventually hit a pole with his vehicle.

As police officers approached the car, Diaz started driving towards the officers. In response, the officers shot at him. Diaz then fled on foot but was apprehended and taken to a local hospital.

Diaz has an outstanding arrest warrant for theft in Tarrant County.

Lt. Robert Hernandez, with the Austin Police Department, was charged with driving while intoxicated in Texas the first week of June. It was the officers second Texas drunk driving offense.

Hernandez was stopped by a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper in Hays County. After failing a field sobriety test he was booked at Hays County jail on charges of drinking and driving. Hays County is directly South of Austin.

Hernandez was charged with Texas DWI in Austin in 1998. He was suspended from the police force for 15 days following that incident. Hernandez has several reprimands in his record, including driving a patrol car without lights or sirens at a speed greater than conditions and crashing his patrol car into a motorcycle, though no alcohol use was mentioned. The Austin Police Department is investigating the latest arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol in Texas.

See Chief Knee’s suspension memorandum of 1998: July 1998 Disciplinary Suspension of Sgt. Robert Hernandez by Chief Stanley L. Knee.

If you have been charged with a DWI in Central Texas you will need to find an Austin, Texas DWI Attorney to represent you on your criminal charge of driving while intoxicated and your driver’s license suspension case which is a civil charge.

The Supreme Court of Minnesota has ruled that the results of blood tests in certain cases of drunk driving can be introduced in court, even if the blood sample was taken without a warrant. The court said that when driving while intoxicated in Minnesota in suspected to have contributed to a serious accident or an accident with fatalities, law enforcement has the right to draw a blood sample from the driver to test for blood alcohol content. That action simply needs probable cause and neither the driver’s consent or a search warrant is required.

The finding overturns a District Court ruling involving a 2006 case of a woman accused of vehicular homicide. A Minnesota DWI defense attorney argued, and the lower court agreed, that police should have sought a warrant before taking the defendant’s blood without her consent. The High Court said that the rapid and natural breakdown of alcohol in the bloodstream established a circumstance that justified taking a warrantless and non-consensual blood sample. It went on to clarify that such blood draws would require the police to have probable cause in cases of a criminal vehicular operation or homicide.

The ruling was received well by law enforcement groups. A State Patrol representative said that officers were being made aware of the ruling.

If you have been arrested for drunk driving in Minnesota you will need to hire an experienced Minnesota DWI attorney to protect your rights and guide you through the legal process.

A band member and a relative of another band member are suing Tejano star Emilio Navaira over an incident of driving while intoxicated in Houston, TX. Emilio was driving the band’s tour bus when he struck a concrete barrier on West Loop 610 at about 5:00 am last March. Emilio was later determined to be driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the wreck.

Daniel Sandoval, drummer with the Grupo Rio band, and Pedro Perez are asking for unspecified damages for injuries. Sandoval received back and head injuries from the accident. Emilio suffered a brain injury after being ejected from the bus through the windshield. Immediately after the accident, the band members only expressed concern for the well being of Emilio.

Shortly after the accident, it was revealed that Emilio had a blood alcohol content of .19%, more than twice the legal limit for intoxicated driving in Texas. In addition the singer had two previous Texas DWI arrests. Emilio Navaira, 45, still faces charges of Texas DWI and felony intoxication assault for injuring five bus passengers during the accident.

The lawsuit cites “serious, permanent and disabling injuries” received by Sandoval and Perez. Sandoval required stitches to close a head wound and says the suit is more for lingering back problems. Perez is the grandfather of the band’s bajo sexto player, Eddie Perez. In a San Antonio Express News article last March, the younger Perez said he and his father were not injured in the accident.

Florida DUI after man claims car was stolen

Cedric Benson was charged with Texas Driving While Intoxicated in Austin early Saturday morning on June 7th. The running back for the Chicago Bears was stopped in downtown Austin for a traffic violation. After failing a field sobriety test, he was booked on suspicion of drunk driving. The Bears organization confirmed that alcohol was involved in the incident. Benson was booked at the Travis County jail and later released on bond.

May 26, 2012