Full Notification

As Harris County joins the nation in celebrating the anniversary of freedom on Thursday, July 4th, and through the weekend, sheriff's deputies will concentrate on apprehending drunk drivers and drunk boaters.

"There is no better time than this holiday period to declare Harris County's independence from its unwelcome title as the DWI-related traffic fatality center of the United States of America," Sheriff Adrian Garcia.

Up to 10 officers on special assignment from the agency's traffic enforcement division will be on the streets of unincorporated Harris County at any given time from 6 tonight through Sunday, working with patrol officers to spot and stop drunk driving.

Under state law and a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, deputies will have the option of drawing blood from DWI suspects to determine their blood alcohol content. HCSO is working with the district attorney's office to ensure strict observation of this "no refusal law."

During the same holiday period last year, HCSO deputies made 55 DWI arrests and responded to 16 DWI-related crashes, including two that were fatal.

The anti-DWI effort will extend to recreational waters of the county. Reserve deputies from the Marine Unit will be on patrol to especially look for intoxicated boaters, who endanger themselves, their passengers, other boaters and swimmers. BWI carries as the same penalties as DWI.








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