The Garland Police Department is stepping up Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) patrols from Wednesday, Dec. 13 through Monday, Jan. 1. The patrols will be active in the nighttime hours and will be utilizing both marked and unmarked police cars.
The increased DWI patrols are a project that is funded through a TXDOT grant program that targets DWI and Driving Under the Influence of Minors.
Officers will apply for blood search warrants for those drivers who refuse to consent to give 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.
From the 2022 calendar year, up until March 28, 2023, TxDOT reported 2,275 crashes involving DUIs in Dallas County. Of those reported, 108 were fatalities.
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