FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

No Refusal Accepted This Labor Day Weekend
(Blood samples taken from those who refuse breath test)

San Antonio, Texas: September 3, 2010

To help ensure that everyone has a safe Labor Day weekend, District Attorney Susan Reed is targeting drunk drivers on our roadways. Beginning at 5:00 p.m. on September 3rd and running 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.

During the last No Refusal Labor Day weekend initiative, 39 individuals arrested for a DWI offense and who refused to provide a breath test had their blood drawn. The average blood alcohol content of those defendants was a .18, over two times the legal limit of .08.

In conjunction with blood warrants, San Antonio Police Department will be increasing their DWI patrol with extra officers comprising the Impaired Driving Mobilization Unit and they will also have their “BAT” mobile in operation throughout the weekend.

The “No Refusal” Labor Day Weekend is done in cooperation with the various law enforcement agencies in the Bexar County DWI Task Force which are out in force this holiday weekend working to keep people safe from intoxicated drivers. The Bexar County Magistrate’s Office, the Bexar County Clerk’s Office, and the City of San Antonio Magistrate’s Office also provide assistance and staff to make the program a success.

Judge Reed encourages everyone to have fun and drive sober this holiday weekend.

For more information, please contact District Attorney Susan Reed at 335-2342.