Posted on 02/02/2009 10:14:00 AM PST by Buffalo Bob
AUSTIN — Public records examined by the Austin American-Statesman show that most elected officials who have been stopped on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in recent years have declined to consent to a blood or breath sample.
The newspaper reported Sunday that it turned up cases involving more than a dozen elected officials in Texas — including representatives, senators, judges and commissioners — in which police on the scene asked for a sample to determine whether the driver's blood-alcohol concentration exceeded the 0.08 legal limit.
Except for two cases, both of which occurred outside the state, the politicians refused, the paper reported.
"Among the general public, the refusal rate is about 50 percent, but at the Capitol, the refusal rate is about 100 percent," said Shannon Edmonds, governmental relations director for the Texas District and County Attorneys Association.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
Lawyers know better than to take the test.
...and the Austin Police Department has started forcibly taking blood from anyone who refuses a breath test during a DWI stop.
I wonder if they will force our politicians to give their blood?
not surprising to me, and I live in Texas.....
What do you think? I really doubt it
Why not? They are taking ours every day the legislature is in session!
>.Lawyers know better than to take the test.<<
Yup.
So what evidence do they have other than your driving? This is still an “innocent until proven guilty” thing, right?
I remember in Houston as a young man I would pop the first beer out of a six pack and use that loop to hang the rest of the beer off my side mirror to keep it cooler on cool nights.
The drinking laws were less stringent then.
Look out as the legislature is in session again. Round up your cattle and keep the women folks close to home.
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/02/01/0201drunkdriving.html
Several bills addressing how and when DWI blood draws may occur have been introduced in this legislative session. Edmonds said the last bill that would have beefed up penalties for refusing to provide breath or blood died in the 2005 session. “Our legislators have shown no interest in exploring that issue,” he said.
Yes, it is.
No, it isn't.
http://www.duiblog.com/2005/05/09/the-dui-exception-to-the-constitution/
teeeeeeeheeeeeeeee That's the funniest thing I've read all day.
Is it a crime to Legislate Under the Influence?
Does Texas not have implied consent?
Just imagine how much worse it would be if Texas had the Kennedys.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chappaquiddick_incident
“...and the Austin Police Department has started forcibly taking blood from anyone who refuses a breath test during a DWI stop.
I wonder if they will force our politicians to give their blood?”
Ditto Susan Reed, our smirking, camera-chasing Bexar County District Attorney - she just put out that edict about a month ago. The reason these folks refuse is that they’d rather give up their DLs administratively for 90 days to 6 months for failure to blow than get a DWI without a fight.
Colonel, USAFR
“I remember in Houston as a young man I would pop the first beer out of a six pack and use that loop to hang the rest of the beer off my side mirror to keep it cooler on cool nights.”
My favorite thing on Friday late afternoon during and right after college (mid-to-late 70s) was to head down (from UT) or up (from San Antonio) to the lake in the pickup with a couple of cold ones. It was relaxing, idyllic even...ah...ahem - uh, where was I?
Colonel, USAFR
We do, but the penalty is administrative license suspension. Different venue and jurisdiction than criminal DWI prosecution.
Colonel, USAFR
Ah yes, for the days when asked, how is far is it.
The answer was two or three beers.
duh.
not only should you NOT do the breathalyzer,
you should NOT do the roadside excercises.
DO NOTHING.
Implied consent exists but refusal for implied consent is different from DWI charges.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.