Police in Kemah and other communities are becoming more creative when it comes to increasing their efforts to cut down on the number of DWI arrests they make. While it is true that law enforcement officers seek out and pull over drivers that they suspect are intoxicated, it is also true that they are much happier when they do not have to make those arrests. DWI traffic stops and arrests take time, somewhere between two to three hours apiece. Officers have plenty to do, so when DWI situations can be prevented, they are grateful for both the increase in public safety and the decrease in time spent dealing with those drivers out on the road.

Increased communication between law enforcement, bar owners, and bar staff is at the heart of the DWI prevention effort. Bar staff and owners conduct an ongoing conversation with area police regarding patrons’ degrees of intoxication. Staff are trained to recognize indicators of intoxication and to encourage patrons who seem intoxicated to stop drinking for the night and arrange for a sober ride home. When patrons express concern over leaving their vehicles in area parking lots overnight, law enforcement officers increase patrols to both protect the cars that stay in parking lots overnight and create a law enforcement presence in the area to deter would-be drunk drivers. If bar patrons are intoxicated and appear to be leaving the bar without an alternative way to get home, bar owners or staff communicate that to the police and the owners of other bars in the area, to make it easier for police to catch would-be drunk drivers before they go on the road. It can also stop them from walking into other bars and having even more drinks.

Public intoxication is a lesser offense than drunk driving, and officers report that while they have been making more arrests for public intoxication since the effort started, they are making fewer DWI arrests. This means that the increased communication provided to them by the owners and staff of local bars is helping the officers locate and arrest at least some would-be drivers for public intoxication before they can commit more serious crimes like DWI.

Police and bar owners report that while the ongoing communication between them takes time and effort, they feel that they can make a more significant impact by discouraging people from drinking and driving than they would by arresting those individuals for DWI, one by one. Some of the things that bar owners and staff have learned, in addition to how to handle drunk patrons in a way that encourages them to seek safe transportation, are how to detect fake IDs and how to write incident reports to keep track of patron activities. The effort has been going on for about a year, and both bar owners and law enforcement are pleased. The number of arrests has declined, and bar owners feel as though focusing extra attention on their guests provides additional safety for them and contributes positively to their experience.

Texas DWI Defense Attorney Alex Tyra – You Ally Against DWI Charges

A seasoned Texas DWI defense attorney can help you understand your rights, protect your freedom, and make a plan for resolving your DWI case. Call Texas Criminal Defense Attorney Alex Tyra, at (903) 753-7499, or fill out a contact form on our website.