Being stopped by the police and questioned about whether one has imbibed alcohol before getting behind the wheel of the car is intimidating and terrifying. In many cases when this happens, a police officer will ask the detained to comply with a field sobriety test, blood or breath alcohol testing, or both. Field sobriety testing […]
When there’s an auto accident that seriously injures another person, Houston-area law enforcement will move quickly to determine whether or not the responsible driver was intoxicated. DWI accidents take on an even higher degree of urgency if an innocent person is killed. In such cases, a driver may face an intoxication manslaughter charge, which is […]
The worst case scenario for any Texas driver is getting into a DWI accident. This is not a situation where you can simply exchange insurance information with the other driver and be on your way. If the police suspect that your intoxication caused an accident–especially one that resulted in personal injury or property damage–you are […]
Government or public figures implicated in a scandal may take a variety of approaches. Some may deny all charges, while others offer no comment. At a minimum, it is often advisable to consult with an attorney before making public admissions. However, the Travis County district attorney did none of these actions. The district attorney was […]
When it comes to sobriety checkpoints, Texas is actually in the minority. Although 38 other states across the country claim that checkpoints have reduced driving while intoxicated violations by as much as 20 percent, Texas lawmakers have not yet allowed them. Several advocacy groups against drunk driving claim that Texas’ prohibition against checkpoints accounts for […]
When a person is arrested for drunk driving, he or she may be anxious about what could happen as a result of the arrest or charges. This anxiety is understandable as having a DWI on one’s record could make it difficult to get a job for many years. In addition, a DWI charge can result […]
In this second post regarding the DWI arrest of Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Jay Ratliff, we describe in greater detail the field sobriety test at issue. As Texas readers recall, the responding officer arrived at the scene due to the nighttime motor vehicle collision, and his notes indicate that Ratliff did not show any outward […]
Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Jay Ratliff was recently arrested on suspicion of DWI. If the matter goes to trial, however, certain procedural irregularities in the arrest record may prove to be a source of dispute. As a preliminary matter, the responding officer arrived on the scene in response to a traffic accident. Ratliff’s Ford F-150 […]
‘Tis the season for holiday festivities. For those who may be imbibing holiday spirits, however, extra transportation precautions should be made: According to the Houston-Galveston Area Council, there will be at least 50 additional DWI patrol units on Houston-area streets over the holiday season. The extra patrols are funded by a $295,000 state grant. H-GAC […]