The Garland Police Department is gearing up for increased Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) patrols beginning Friday, Dec. 21 and running through Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019.
The increased DWI patrols are for an Impaired Driver Mobilization project funded through TxDOT and targets DWI along with Driving Under the Influence by Minors. The patrols will be active in the nighttime hours utilizing both marked and unmarked police cars.
Officers will apply for blood search warrants for those drivers who refuse to consent to giving a specimen of their breath or blood when arrested for Driving While Intoxicated related offenses.
Convicted first-time DWI offenders can pay a fine of up to $2,000, lose their driver’s license for up to a year and serve 180 days in jail. Safety officials say other costs associated with an impaired driving arrest and conviction can add up to more than $17,000 for bail, legal fees, court appearances, court ordered classes, vehicle insurance increases and other expenses.
In Texas, someone is hurt or killed in a vehicular crash involving alcohol approximately every 20 minutes. In 2017, on Texas Highways, there were 944 alcohol related traffic fatality crashes.
No life is worth the risk, not even your own.