"No Refusal" for DWI Suspects Over July 4 Weekend

North Texas police are banding together and initiating a "no refusal" policy over the holiday weekend. "No refusal" means that if you are pulled over for a suspected DWI and you refuse a breathalyzer test, a search warrant will be immediately issued and the officer will take a blood sample to determine your blood alcohol content (BAC). Anyone arrested for DWI should contact a Plano criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.

In Texas, the legal limit for alcohol while operating a motor vehicle is .08%. For minors, there is a zero tolerance policy, which means that any BAC could result in a DWI charge.  

A DWI conviction can result in up to 180 days in jail, up to $2,000 in fines, mandatory alcohol education classes or mandatory victim panels. Furthermore, your license can be suspended for up to a year and you can be placed on probation. If this is a second or third offense, the penalties are much stricter.

Last year, almost 12,000 people were killed in auto accidents in which at least one driver was above the .08% limit. The July 4th holiday weekend is notorious for alcohol related accidents.

In Plano, the no refusal initiative will be in effect Friday through Tuesday, 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.