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 3^rd 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.

STARS, STRIPES, AND TAXIS

JULY 4^TH IS A NO REFUSAL WEEKEND    

San Antonio, Texas, July 1, 2010:  District Attorney Susan Reed is targeting drunk drivers this July 4^th holiday weekend.  Beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 2^nd 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 initiative during Fiesta 2010, one hundred twenty individuals had their blood drawn due to a driving while intoxicated offense.  The average blood alcohol content for defendants who had their blood drawn was a .16, twice the legal limit in Texas. 

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

The “No Refusal” weekend is an initiative 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 this 4^th of July working to keep everyone safe from intoxicated drivers.  Assistance and staff are also being provided by the Bexar County Magistrate’s Office, the Bexar County District Clerk’s Office and the City of San Antonio Magistrate’s Office. 

District Attorney Susan Reed encourages everyone to drive safe and sober during this holiday. 

For more information, contact Susan D. Reed, Bexar County District Attorney at 335-2342.

SAN ANTONIO - More than three million people, consisting of local and tourist combined will come together in San Antonio during the ten-day Fiesta event which runs from April 15^th - 25^th.  Most Fiesta events serve alcohol and that is why TxDOT and Silver Eagle Distributors along with other key partners unveiled an alternative transportation strategy on Thursday April 8th 2010 that will include 700 FREE Yellow Cab rides valued up to $25 per ride.  Yellow Cab under a community grant funded by TxDOT and supporting funds from Silver Eagle will offer free rides to responsible Fiesta goers 21 and over. 

The cab rides are valid on the following dates:

TxDOT unveiled its collaborative safety message:  Plan ahead, Choose your ride–San Antonio.  The campaign offers Fiesta-goers, 21 and over to have Yellow Cab as their designated driver.  Fiesta-goers will be asked to plan ahead and choose their ride –take a cab or be driven by local police to jail. 

Local traffic safety advocates feel that this campaign combined with public education and enforcement will drastically decrease the number of alcohol related crashes and fatalities during Fiesta.  Last year during the month of April, San Antonio Police Department reported 239 alcohol related crashes and 422 DWI arrest with the majority occurring during Fiesta week.

Bexar County District Attorney, Judge Susan Reed announced a "No Refusal" blood warrant initiative to run throughout the Fiesta holiday. 

Bexar County DWI Task Force Chairman, Mike Davis also announced increased DWI enforcement by local law enforcement agencies.  "Our goal is a Fatality Free Fiesta!" said a Yellow Cab spokesman. (WATCH THE MEDIA EVENT ON YOU TUBE)

San Antonio, Texas (March 2, 2010) - The San Antonio Council on Alcohol
and Drug Abuse (SACADA) and the Circles of San Antonio Community
Coalition (COSA) have recently published the results of their 2009 Needs
Assessment examining alcohol and drug use in Bexar County.  The report
explores several indicators within Bexar County including demographic,
employment, crime rate and student use and is helpful in developing
effective prevention strategies.  These findings and other trends will
be explored in depth at the Texans Standing Tall Regional Forum, March
26, in San Antonio.

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 31^st 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.