Whereas most of the world observed Labor Day this past May 1st with marches and protests, people in the United States will have their turn on Monday, September 1st. What this means for workers in the Lone Star State is that they will have an opportunity to enjoy a three-day weekend to relax and enjoy the nice weather before the next major American holiday of Thanksgiving.
Lots of events are planned around Texas for Labor Day. There’s the World Championship BBQ Goat Cook-off in Brady, the BrewMasters in Galveston, the Bedford Blues and BBQ Festival, the Labor Day Parade in Garland, and many others. Law enforcement agencies in Texas also have something special planned for Labor Day weekend, and it is something all drivers should keep in mind.
“No-Refusal” Weekends in Texas
Starting on Friday, August 29th to September, 1st, law enforcement agencies in Texas will conduct a statewide operation known as “no-refusal weekend.” This operation aims to crack down on driving while intoxicated (DWI) violations. No-refusal weekends are highly coordinated operations that include the participation of prosecutors, judges, police officers, and health care workers who are often paid overtime for this effort.
No-refusal checkpoints are essentially DWI processing centers that are usually set up at night. A common tactic used by law enforcement consists of blocking off two lanes of traffic in a three-lane thoroughfare so that drivers have no choice but to be stopped by police officers. Should you be one of the unfortunate drivers to run into one of these checkpoints during a no-refusal weekend in Texas, you can expect the following:
- Officers will assume you have been drinking
- All your actions will be recorded on video
- You will be asked incriminating questions
Should the officers’ suspicions of DWI escalate, you may be asked to submit to a Breathalyzer test, which you may refuse. However, your refusal may invoke section 724.012 of the Texas Transportation Code. This means that the prosecutors on site will draft a warrant that will be reviewed and approved on the spot by a judge. This warrant will authorize a forced collection of a blood specimen, which will be drawn by a phlebotomist under the supervision of police officers.
What You Should Do During a DWI Traffic Stop
Beware of police officers who will throw various incriminating questions. The idea is to be polite and cooperative to a certain extent. When asked if you had anything to drink before getting behind the wheel, your answer should be: “I have nothing to say.” You will be pressed with more questions, to which you should reply: “I don’t want to incriminate myself; therefore, I am invoking my Fifth Amendment rights.” If you are arrested or issued a citation, you should contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.
Hire a Drunk Driving Attorney Today
DWIs are very serious in the state of Texas. It’s important to have a clean record as getting a DWI can affect you in many ways from getting a job to your insurance rates. The best thing you can do if you are arrested for a DUI is to contact Matthew D. Sharp at 713-868-6100.
*Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net
