In an effort to reduce the impact of drunk driving this coming holiday, local law enforcement agencies and judges will be testing all suspected impaired drivers who refuse to provide samples for intoxicant testing by obtaining warrants for blood draws.
The San Marcos Police Department, the Kyle Police Department, the Buda Police Department, the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, Texas State University Police Department, and the Department of Public Safety will be participating in a No Refusal New Year’s Eve. A qualified phlebotomist and Hays County Court at Law No. 2 Judge Chris Johnson have volunteered to be at the Hays County Jail to expedite the process for Hays County peace officers to seek and obtain DWI search warrants to draw the blood from those who are suspected of driving in Hays County while intoxicated, but who refuse to provide a sample of their blood.
Hays County Criminal District Attorney Wes Mau applauded these efforts and said, “Despite convenient ride-sharing alternatives, far too many people still choose to endanger Hays County citizens by drinking and driving. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there were 258 driving-under-the-influence crashes in 2018 in Hays County. Over 100 people were injured and 11 killed in these crashes. Our office hopes that these No Refusal events—with the help of our dedicated law enforcement community and our hard-working magistrates—will become a common practice in our community as they are elsewhere.”
