FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RING IN A SAFE NEW YEAR NO REFUSAL ACCEPTED FOR NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY

San Antonio, Texas: December 30, 2009:

District Attorney Susan Reed is targeting drunk drivers this New Year's holiday. Beginning at 8:00 p.m. on December 31st and during select time periods through the holiday weekend, individuals arrested for Driving While Intoxicated who refuse to give a sample of their breath are subject to having a blood sample taken pursuant to a search warrant.

The blood sample obtained by these warrants will be tested by the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office to provide critical scientific evidence to secure a conviction against the Defendant. An Assistant District Attorney will be on duty at the San Antonio Magistrate's Office and Detention Facility to assist with and review the blood search warrants that will then be presented to a magistrate. Registered Nurses will be on duty to draw the blood.

By way of example, on one No Refusal Weekend, the average blood alcohol content was a .16, twice the legal limit of .08. Last New Year's Eve, eleven people had their blood drawn with the results revealing a similar blood alcohol level average of .17. We have also seen blood alcohol levels as high as .35, more than four times the legal limit.

Bexar County joins a growing list of Texas counties using blood draws to combat the continuing DWI problem. Comal, Harris, Travis, Tarrant, Parker, Williamson and Colorado counties, among others, have each instituted a blood draw program in some form.

The "No Refusal" night is a project of the District Attorney's Office done in cooperation with the various law enforcement agencies in the Bexar County DWI Task Force who are out on patrol working to keep this holiday safe. The Bexar County Magistrate's Office, the Bexar County District Clerk's Office, and the City of San Antonio Magistrate's Office have also provided assistance and staff to assist with this program.

District Attorney Susan Reed encourages everyone to be safe and be smart during this holiday. Don't Drink and Drive.

For more information, contact Cliff Herberg, First Assistant District Attorney at 335-2342.