If you think that “no refusal” periods are limited to holiday weekends, it\u2019s time that you take another look at Texas DWI policy, including the provisions for \u201cno refusal\u201d periods. Some areas have lengthy \u201cno refusal\u201d periods in March, not because St. Patrick\u2019s Day celebrations last for weeks, but because other events like Spring Break and the South by Southwest music festival bring people from all kinds of places to Texas to have a good time. It is true that many \u201cno refusal\u201d periods cover holiday weekends like the Super Bowl and the Fourth of July, but there are some longer periods as well, such as the current one that lasts for a significant part of the month of March, that motorists should know about.<\/p>\n
While the length of specific \u201cno refusal\u201d periods varies from place to place, the timing of patrols is often predictable. In many locations, patrols operate between the hours of nine in the evening and five in the morning. If a driver gets pulled over and asked to submit to roadside blood or breath testing at any time during a \u201cno refusal\u201d period, the officer who pulled them over may apply for a blood search warrant if they do not voluntarily participate in roadside testing.<\/p>\n
Law enforcement officials say that they would rather see people plan ahead and arrange for safe transportation than arrest many drivers whom they suspect of driving while intoxicated. There are often multiple options for safe transportation available, including some transportation options that may be available specifically for attendees of individual events, like Spring Break or music festival shuttle services. Ride sharing services are also popular right now, and there may be many options to choose from in your local area. Whenever you and your friends make plans to go to an event, why not spend a little extra time making sure that you know how you will get around before, during, and after the event. Taking the time to arrange safe transportation for yourself and your friends can go a long way towards avoiding DWI charges and, even more importantly, reduce the risk of harm to yourself and others.<\/p>\n
Whether you are visiting Texas or you are an experienced Texas driver who does not know the penalties for a Texas DWI, please know that a first offense DWI can carry a fine of up to two thousand dollars. It can also get you a sentence of three to one hundred and eighty days in jail in addition to license suspension. If you get convicted of a second DWI offense, you could be fined up to two thousand dollars and spend between one month and one year in jail in addition to license suspension. The penalties continue to increase for each subsequent offense, and of aggravating factors like a crash or a child passenger are present, additional penalties may be imposed.<\/p>\n