Staff Report
The arrest of 19 total people on Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) charges over the weekend was higher than normal, according to a Hays County Sheriff’s Office official.
Of the 19 arrested, four were stopped by the San Marcos Police Department, while eight were arrested by Hays County. Kyle Police arrested three individuals for DWI.
Hays County deputy Stephen Traeger said the number of DWI arrests was “higher than what we normally would see.” He said each entity along the Interstate 35 corridor sees approximately five DWI arrests over the course of the weekend.
Traeger attributed the increase in traffic along the IH-35 corridor as one factor for DWIs in the county.
“With the number of vehicles that travel on the highway 24 hours a day, that’s going to be a big part of it,” Traeger said.
Growth along the corridor also plays a contributing factor in the increase in DWIs.
“You have two popular cities, such as San Marcos and Austin, for entertainment,” Traeger said. “With all of the events going on every weekend, that is contributing to (DWIs) as well.”
Traeger said no entity had a task force focused on stopping DWIs last weekend, but Hays County deputies are “always on the lookout” for potential impaired drivers.
Assistance from the public also helps the county locate DWI cases. Traeger said citizens aren’t hesitant in using their cell phones to call in suspected drunk motorists.
“We try to get units to respond to those calls,” Traeger said. “San Marcos does the same thing, along with Kyle and Buda (police). They will reach out to phone calls from the public.
Kyle Police Department Chief Jeff Barnett said an increase in population and traffic attributes to DWI cases.
According to Barnett, the department arrests “several people” for DWI each week. The majority of those arrests are called in by concerned motorists who travel near the suspected drunk driver. He credits the public with using their phones to notify law enforcement.
“Many years ago, not as many people had cell phones, and not as many people wanted to call in because they were hesitant,” Barnett said.
Increased public awareness and public education campaigns against DWIs have helped, Barnett said.
While Kyle Police officers have always paid attention to DWIs, he said the city will “always experience DWI related arrests.”
“It’s an offense we’re keenly aware of,” Barnett said. “We pay attention to that offense day or night.”