FROM THE OFFICE OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY BRETT LIGON
PRESS RELEASE – ST. PATRICK’S DAY NO REFUSAL
March 17, 2009
The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office will be coordinating a St. Patrick’s Day No Refusal DWI Holiday Event tonight to ensure the safety of the public in celebrating this holiday. March is one of the busiest DWI months of the year due to Spring Break and other area events. Additionally, the North Freeway corridor from Galveston to Conroe has been named one of the deadliest DWI roads in the nation.
Several Law enforcement agencies will be participating including the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, the Department of Public Safety, the Houston Police Department, the Conroe Police Department, the Shenandoah Police Department, and others. Most enforcement will be focused on the North Freeway from the Beltway 8 and continuing through Montgomery County. Although this will be the area of focus, police officers from all agencies and all areas will have access to the nurse administering blood draws.
This event is the beginning of a more regional approach to DWI enforcement and traffic safety. The program will supply nurses, police, prosecutors, and judges to review probable cause affidavits in DWI arrests. Blood can be drawn from DWI suspects in as little as fifteen minutes thereby providing powerful evidence to prosecutors in court. The Houston Police Department, in addition to its patrols, will also provide a BAT-mobile or Breath Alcohol Testing Mobile Unit to assist in a more efficient processing of DWI arrestees.
“We want everyone to enjoy their St. Patrick’s Day in a manner that does not endanger the lives of others,” said Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon. “Our office is committed to pursuing more of these programs. We appreciate local law enforcement’s commitment to reducing the number of DWI’s on local freeways.”
