Houston’s Spring Break DWI Initiative

This year, many Texas college students were in for a rude awakening when they collected a spring break DWI (driving while intoxicated). For most, it will be their first encounter with the Texas criminal justice system. If you got arrested for DWI during spring break, you should take the situation seriously and invest the help of a skilled Houston drunk driving attorney. In addition to the obvious risk of fines and possible jail time, a drunk driving conviction may also result in disciplinary action from your school.

Don’t let an arrest ruin your future. Contact The Law Offices of Ned Barnett today at (713) 222-6767 to schedule a free case consultation.

Houston Police Step Up Enforcement of Drunk Driving Laws During Spring Break

Drunk driving is common during the holidays, and the police step up enforcement during these periods. This year’s spring break was no exception. On March 7, 2019, Precincts 8 and 16 of the Houston Police Department announced their annual Spring Break DWI Initiative. Working with other law enforcement agencies such as the local sheriff’s office, Houston police described in detail their plans catching and processing drunk drivers in eastern and southern Harris County.

At the Clear Lake police station, for example, they set up a “one stop shop” for the processing of DWI suspects, enabling officers to drop off suspects and then quickly return to the streets to catch more drunk drivers. At the processing center, medical staff took blood samples from suspects that would later be used as evidence in the DWI cases. The suspects were then taken to county jail and booked.

The plan seems to have achieved the intended results, with the police reporting hundreds of DWI arrests in the Houston area during the spring break period. Galveston County law enforcement made nearly70 DWI arrests during the period between March 11 and 22. Meanwhile, in Montgomery County, there were around 130 DWI arrests from March 8 to 24.

How a Houston DWI Lawyer Can Help

If you were caught up in the recent DWI initiative, you are understandably fearful about your future. Most people know that they face the possibility of jail time, fines, and court costs, but in many cases, the collateral consequences of a conviction outweigh these criminal penalties. A DWI conviction can have long-lasting effects on your education and employment – especially if you are a young adult completing your studies or just entering the workforce.

Owing to the harsh consequences of a conviction, you should make every effort to fight your DWI charges with the help of an experienced attorney. Too many people plead guilty to their drunk driving charge without sitting down with a lawyer and reviewing the options for defending their case. The police often trample the rights of drunk driving suspects, rendering the evidence they collect useless at trial. For example, if you were driving normally at the time you were pulled over, it’s possible that the police lacked the basis for making a lawful traffic stop. If proven in court, this fact could result in the dismissal of your case even before the trial begins.

Did You Get Charged With a Spring Break DWI? Call Us Today

A skilled Houston DWI defense lawyer will carefully review the facts of your case, and highlight the issues that need to be raised in court. If raised promptly, these issues can give the judge reason to dismiss your case or grant an acquittal. The earlier your defense team begins working on your drunk driving case, the better your chances of obtaining a positive result. For more information about these defense strategies, call The Law Offices of Ned Barnett today at (713) 222-6767 to learn more, or reach out via the online form to schedule a free, initial evaluation of your case.