No Refusal And Texas DWIs
If you live in Texas, you may have heard of no refusal initiatives. Essentially, these are periods of time when law enforcement steps up their goal of stopping individuals suspected of driving while intoxicated. Often no refusal periods are connected to holidays when drunk driving is known to increase. For example, many police departments have no refusal guidelines in place for the weekends and holidays from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. This is because during the holiday season many people are known to drink and drive.
While there are rules surrounding no refusal stops, it is also important to understand that you still have rights when you are pulled over, whether it is a no refusal weekend or not. To have your situation assessed by a legal professional, talk to an experienced Houston DWI lawyer.
Consequences Should You Choose to Refuse
In most situations, no refusal weekends are linked to specific tests, blood alcohol tests and breath tests. The rule may not apply to gaze analysis, balance tests, and other field sobriety tests, for example. If you are arrested and refuse a test, a warrant could be obtained. And if an officer receives a warrant to check your blood, additional criminal charges could be possible.
Awareness is one of the top reasons why no refusal time periods exist. Generally, officers have more resources to be sure they can catch drunk drivers, such as judges being on call to review warrant requests at odd hours. Prevention is part of the initiative. In part, no refusal weekends remind drivers that the state of Texas takes drunk driving seriously, so if you are going to be drinking alcoholic beverages when visiting friends or family, you need to designate a sober driver or make a plan to get home other than driving yourself.
Contact an Attorney After a DWI Arrest
When you are pulled over during a no refusal weekend, refusing a sobriety test is much more likely to prompt an officer to obtain a warrant for blood testing. This can escalate your legal worries. After all, a breath test has more room for error than a blood test, which could be ordered once a warrant is obtained. A breath test may leave room for reasonable doubt.
After any Texas DWI arrest, during a no refusal time period or not, you need an experienced Houston DWI lawyer who has the legal knowledge to help. A not guilty verdict could be possible, have an attorney assess the specifics of your case to explore different options.
Were you pulled over for drunk driving during a no refusal weekend? To protect your rights and freedom, connect with a qualified Texas attorney. A skilled lawyer can inform you of possibilities once they assess the details of your case. DWI cases can be complex, but you do not have to navigate the process and defend yourself, instead connect with the legal team at Ayson Law Firm. Our attorneys will work to get your charges dismissed or reduced. Contact us today for a free consultation.
