Austin Dwi

Over an eight hour period on the Friday night of the Labor Day weekend, the Austin Police Department (APD) arrested 27 motorists for driving while intoxicated. The anti-drunk driving initiative included implementation of a 'no refusal' policy where a warrant is secured for a blood sample if a driver suspected of intoxication refuses to submit to a breath test.


The crackdown in Austin utilized 14 officers that are part of the APD DWI Enforcement Team. The special patrols, as well as any other officers on duty, were allowed to bring suspects to a blood alcohol test command center that had been set up at the intersection of Barton Springs Road and South First Street. Once at the remote station, a warrant was secured and a preliminary blood sample was taken to test for intoxication.

The initiative was conducted between 9:00 pm Friday and 5:00 am Saturday. Of the 27 arrests for DWI in Austin, 9 involved warrants for a blood draw, 5 motorists consented to a blood draw and 12 submitted to a breath test. The final arrest involved a mandatory blood draw taken under a new statewide DWI felony law that calls for warrantless blood testing if the suspect caused an accident with injury, has a minor in the vehicle or has two prior drunk driving convictions.

It was the sixth time that the APD has used the 'no refusal' plan since last Halloween.