Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Refusing a sobriety test during the holidays not an option
Valleycentra ^ | 12.15.2013 | Valeria Aponte

Posted on 12/16/2013 8:56:37 AM PST by moonshinner_09

Troopers all across Texas are going after drunk drivers this holiday season.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is aiming to lower the amount of drunk drivers across the state by increasing the amount of troopers, working overtime, and enforcing stricter rules.

No refusals are among the stricter rules being enforced, meaning if an officer believes you are drunk and asks you to take a blood test you will most likely have to still take one.

If you say no, the officer will get a warrant from a judge immediately to get your blood specimen.

Saying no to a breathalyzer will also prompt authorities to get a warrant for a blood test.

"For example if you are a 0.05 you can still get arrested if the officer believes that you have lost physical and mental capacity to safely operate a motor vehicle," Trooper Maria Hernandez said.

Anything over a 0.08 blood alcohol concentration is deemed too dangerous for a driver to be behind the wheel.

Another rule is if they catch you intoxicated while driving with children under 15-years-old, you will get a $10,000 fine, two years in state jail and your license will be suspended.

This is the first time DPS is teaming up with police, fire departments and emergency medical services (EMS) to decrease the amount of drunk driving related accidents.

(Excerpt) Read more at valleycentral.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: addiction; alcohol; donutwatch; drunkdrivers; dui; dwi; happyholidays; lawenforcement; onefortheroad; texas
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-151 next last
To: DManA

Oh yeah, I did. I am sure he will be quite well off in the not to distant future.


21 posted on 12/16/2013 9:24:13 AM PST by eastforker (Cruz for steam in 2016)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: ElkGroveDan

They’re gonna solve drunk driving even if it kills us all...


22 posted on 12/16/2013 9:24:29 AM PST by rockrr (Everything is different now...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: rockrr
They’re gonna solve drunk driving even if it kills us all...

Why don't you ask the families of the 4 victims of the "teen" drunk driver who were killed in Burleson, TX earlier this year whether they want drunk driving "solved," or at least prosecuted.

23 posted on 12/16/2013 9:29:28 AM PST by fwdude ( You cannot compromise with that which you must defeat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: fwdude

Three 12-oz beers within an hour is quite a bit of drinking. If you don’t think so, you’re likely an alcoholic.


I’m in a couple of bands and sometimes play at bars. My drinking involves one beer per hour. Even then I’m paranoid about getting pulled over. Costco has a breathalizer keychain I’ve thought about getting so at least I can have piece of mind. I get the feeling I’m not even close, though.;)

That said, I suspect I can drive better with a .15 than most middle aged first generation asian women drivers in Seattle. I’m being dead serious here. I’d like to use one of those costco breathalizers to give it a try in my area (on my own 32 acres, I mean).


24 posted on 12/16/2013 9:29:59 AM PST by cuban leaf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: fwdude

That’s all they can do is prosecute it, they will never solve it.


25 posted on 12/16/2013 9:31:01 AM PST by eastforker (Cruz for steam in 2016)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: fwdude

Why don’t you ask the families of the 4 victims of the “teen” drunk driver who were killed in Burleson, TX earlier this year whether they want drunk driving “solved,” or at least prosecuted.


Just because someone else kills someone during a particular activity it doesn’t mean I’m going to when doing the same activity. We kill over 40,000 people every year on the roads and a LOT of them do not involve any drinking drivers, yet the rest of us sober drivers somehow seem to avoid offing our neighbors when we drive.


26 posted on 12/16/2013 9:31:56 AM PST by cuban leaf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: cuban leaf

Check out the on-line BAC calculator I posted above. One beer an hour, based on your weight, is likely not going to put you anywhere near over the limit.


27 posted on 12/16/2013 9:32:27 AM PST by fwdude ( You cannot compromise with that which you must defeat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: cuban leaf

Yup, of all traffic fatalities alcohol is involved in 35%. That must mean stupidity is a factor in the other 65%. Time to jail people over stupidity.


28 posted on 12/16/2013 9:34:02 AM PST by eastforker (Cruz for steam in 2016)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: fwdude

Yeah, I got a ticket in Indiana just north of Louisville on I-65 for speeding and, though it was a serious annoyance, the good thing was they gave me this very comprehansive pamphlet about the body and alcohol.

My two main takeaways: 1. If you really get plastered on Saturday night, you are probably not legal to drive until after lunch on Sunday. 2. I’m way too conservative regarding my drinking. I could probably drink a LOT more and still be legal. But the one beer (or shot) an hour is a really good rule. And besides, as an old guy, all alcohol does is put me to sleep.

And make me a better driver. At least, it’s a lot more fun. :-D


29 posted on 12/16/2013 9:35:48 AM PST by cuban leaf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: moonshinner_09

What if the cop(s) just want to harass you, even if you have not been drinking, can they still require you to take the tests? Just because.......?


30 posted on 12/16/2013 9:36:20 AM PST by rawhide
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fwdude

Ask them yourself.


31 posted on 12/16/2013 9:38:43 AM PST by rockrr (Everything is different now...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: eastforker

Actually, nearly ALL traffic accidents are caused by stupidity, drinking while impaired by alcohol or drugs being just one stupidity.


32 posted on 12/16/2013 9:38:54 AM PST by fwdude ( You cannot compromise with that which you must defeat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: eastforker

Yup, of all traffic fatalities alcohol is involved in 35%.


It’s not even that bad. If you are a designated driver and have a drunk person riding as a passenger in your car during a collision, it is considered an “alcohol related” accident. If you are carrying a case of beer home from the store and a bottle breaks in the accident it’s “alcohol related”. It’s pretty comical, really, how they calculate the stats.

I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that if one of the cars in the accident was burning E-85 they would call the accident “alcohol related”. :-D


33 posted on 12/16/2013 9:39:04 AM PST by cuban leaf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: rawhide

Read on to what I posted earlier. If you have not been drinking, suggest a breathalyzer to prove it. Don’t try and outsmart them by agreeing to a FST that is designed for you to fail.


34 posted on 12/16/2013 9:39:24 AM PST by eastforker (Cruz for steam in 2016)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: fwdude

I don’t even know what that response means.


35 posted on 12/16/2013 9:40:00 AM PST by fwdude ( You cannot compromise with that which you must defeat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: eastforker

What if I do not want to take any tests? Do I have any legal grounds to stand on? Do I lose relinquish all my rights when driving?


36 posted on 12/16/2013 9:41:10 AM PST by rawhide
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: cuban leaf

Agreed Cuban Leaf. I dread having to run the gauntlet to get me & my gear home after a full nights work.


37 posted on 12/16/2013 9:41:16 AM PST by rockrr (Everything is different now...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: eastforker

I understand all that..you initial comment said that if you haven’t been drinking..you should refuse to take an FST..just demand a breathalyzer or blood test..that makes perfect sense..it’s what I’d do..so why wouldn’t any sober person NOT do that, and I guess, more importantly, why would a cop object to your doing that?


38 posted on 12/16/2013 9:41:49 AM PST by ken5050 (I still miss Howlin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: eastforker
I might add ‘just because the cop(s) want to be an jackass to everybody’ irregardless?
39 posted on 12/16/2013 9:42:47 AM PST by rawhide
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: eastforker

Also most people have consumed carrots within a month of all accidents


40 posted on 12/16/2013 9:44:28 AM PST by al baby (Hi MomÂ… I was refereeing to Obama)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 141-151 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson