Some Texas Law Enforcement Focused on Catching DWI Drivers

1
Apr
By:

Throughout Texas, police will pull you over if you are engaged in suspicious behavior that could indicate you are driving drunk. In addition to general enforcement by on-duty police on traffic patrol, there are also periodic DWI crackdowns. During these times, more police are typically put on the streets in targeted areas to focus on finding intoxicated drivers. 

While these general efforts all involve on-duty police assigned to catching drunk drivers, there are certain law enforcement agents who have made a special name for themselves in their efforts to enforce DWI laws. Our Texas DWI attorneys know that police must have probable cause to pull over and test a driver’s BAC. It is important that those police who focus on catching DWI drivers obey all of the Constitutional protections in place so that no driver has his rights violated as a result of a proactive concentrated focus on drunk driving enforcement.

Some Texas Police Excel in DWI Enforcement

Recently, NBC published an article with a profile of a Grand Prairie, Texas, police officer who has been recognized for two years in a row as one of the top ten officers for DWI arrests.

According to the NBC article, the policeman who was honored for his work in catching drunk drivers had made 88 DWI arrests in 2012 and 115 DWI arrests in 2011. He indicated that his close friend was killed in a drunk driving accident by an intoxicated driver in 2005 and that he has made it his mission to stop drunk drivers since that time. The officer says he has spent hours of time in court and dealing with paperwork. However, he believes that his efforts in curbing drunk driving and his time spent are well worth it if he can stop someone from causing a drunk driving crash.

The Grand Prairie Chief of Police indicated that this top officer fulfills his duties even as he also has other responsibilities in enforcing traffic laws and investigating car wrecks. Although the officer isn’t on DWI enforcement full time, his stats are compared to those who were hired only for DWI enforcement. Thus his feat is even more impressive as he makes so many arrests in addition to completing his normal work duties.

Protecting Constitutional Rights of Intoxicated Drivers

While police can and should work to enforce all of the laws, including DWI laws, there are some risks associated with law enforcement having a single-minded focus on catching intoxicated drivers, especially when the agenda of the police officer is factored into the equation. The concern is always whether a law enforcement agent has reasonable cause to pull over a driver. Further, once a driver has been pulled over, police cannot require a breath test or blood alcohol test unless there is reasonable cause to do so — reasonable suspicion that the driver is drunk.

It is important for all police officers, especially those who are extremely proactive in enforcing DWI laws, to make sure they are following the rules so that the constitutional rights of drivers are protected. If any evidence is collected without reasonable cause, even if the officer was acting in good faith out of a genuine desire to stop drunk driving, then the evidence cannot be used in court.

You need an experienced, aggressive Texas DWI lawyer.  Call 1-800-395-5951 today for your free consultation. More than 20 years experience.

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