By Andy Sevilla
A regional DWI enforcement initiative nabbed 13 suspects through Hays County over the Labor Day weekend, though there were 28 alcohol-related arrests countywide according to Hays County jail records.
The Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) arrests — 13 — accounted for only half the total alcohol-related arrests conducted countywide from Friday, Aug. 29 through Monday, Sept. 1.
There were 14 arrests involving Public Intoxication (PI), as well as one arrest where the suspect was charged for Intoxication Assault with a Vehicle, among other things.
On Aug. 27 law enforcement agencies from Hays, Travis and Williamson counties announced a second regional DWI enforcement initiative in the Austin metropolitan area aimed at detecting and arresting impaired drivers.
The initiative also included a “no refusal” component where officers applied for a search warrant to obtain blood from suspected impaired drivers who refuse to provide a breath or blood sample, according to a statement by the Austin Police Department (APD).
APD conducted 86 DWI arrests over the long weekend of which 43 involved search warrant blood draws. It is not clear if any search warrant blood draws were issued in Hays County.
The Buda and Kyle police departments were involved in the regional enforcement initiative. Officers conducted two and three alcohol-related arrests, respectively, according to jail record data.
The Hays County Sheriff’s Office, the San Marcos Police Department and the Department of Public Safety each conducted six alcohol-related arrests. Texas State University Police conducted five, all of which were for public intoxication.
