The holiday blood draw days are back, and they have nothing to do with a blood drive for charity. Throughout the holidays, up until New Years Day, DWI Task Force and BAT vans will be out in full force. Extra staff will be on hand to assist police officers in attaining timely search warrants to forcibly draw blood from anyone suspected of driving under the influence or while intoxicated.
The Houston police department (HPD) does not release its strategy or areas of concentration to crack down on drinking and driving during the holidays. Luckily for people in Houston and throughout Texas, DWI checkpoints are not allowed here. However, the DWI task force strategically places officers at points of high traffic volume and DWI likelihood.
If you live in one of the trendy hot spots in Houston with a dense population of nightspots and restaurants such as the heights area (Washington Ave. in particular), Galleria, City Centre, or Westheimer Rd., be extra careful over the holidays. These areas are not only well known as great destinations for a night out, they are known to law enforcement as high concentration areas for drunk driving. The Houston DWI task force will be waiting for you to make any little mistake or forget to use a turn signal while driving in these areas.
If you’re going to go out to celebrate at a dinner party, restaurant, or bar over the holidays, make sure you have a designated driver or other transportation arrangements. With Houston police saturating the roads this holiday season, and a no refusal blood draw week ahead, it would be silly to take any unnecessary chances.
However, the holidays are meant for celebrating, and sometimes our judgment calls are not as sharp as we hope they will be. If you are arrested for DWI or DUI charges, call the Offices of Johnson, Johnson, & Baer, P. C. today.
