Drunk drivers are the target of a statewide crackdown to keep the roads safe during the Labor Day holiday.
The Austin Police Department has a special DWI enforcement unit that patrols the entire city looking for intoxicated drivers. Wednesday night police officers allowed KVUE’s cameras to capture the process.
The night began with a ride-a-long with senior police officer Patrick Oborski. He has worked with the DWI unit for seven years and focuses on the Downtown Austin area.
“It’s the hub of the entertainment district where there’s a lot of alcohol, and a lot of intoxicated drivers. I like to get them before they get out of the downtown area, and before they get on the high speed roadways where a more serious accident could occur,” said Officer Oborski.
At 11:15 p.m. Wednesday night Oborski stopped a Chevy Tahoe after the driver turned right from a non-turn lane.
The driver argued with the officer for several minutes and refused a series of field sobriety tests. He later sat on the street claiming his back hurt too much to do any of the tests.
“Based on all the personal observations and the driving exhibited I felt like I had no choice but to arrest him for driving while intoxicated,” said Oborski.
The man also refused breath and blood tests. Officers got a warrant and had the man’s blood drawn at University Medical Center Brackenridge. Police officers later bring the people they arrest to the B.A.T. Bus, which is normally parked at Congress and Riverside. There officers give breath tests, finish paperwork, and transport people to Central Booking in Downtown Austin.
“We can take those people in a paddy wagon and transport several people to jail at once, and relieve the officers from standing in long lines at the jail to book them in,” said Corporal Ryan Herring.
Wednesday night, the DWI Unit arrested 13 people and brought them to the B.A.T. Bus.
“Every night is a drinking night. Bars are open seven nights a week, and we can have a whole department dedicated to doing nothing but arrest drunk drivers and we could be busy all the time,” said Herring.
Convicted first-time DWI offenders face a fine of up to $2,000, loss of their driver’s license for up to a year, and up to 180 days in jail.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation there were 27,108 alcohol-related crashes in Texas last year that resulted in 955 deaths and 17,542 injuries.
Saturday evening APD will start its No Refusal Program. If you are pulled over for drunk driving and refuse a breath test, you will go to jail and your blood will be drawn by court order.
