Despite a spate of high-profile incidents at this year's Fiesta in San Antonio, data indicates that the festival may have seen a decline in the number of DWI arrests, compared to recent years. Early figures from the San Antonio Police Department suggest there were 104 DWI arrests during the 11-day celebration, a noticeable dip from the 146 arrests logged in 2023 and well below the staggering 169 arrests in 2021, MySA reports.

This decrease potentially marks 2024 as the year with the fewest drunk driving incidents for the decade thus far, although final data, for Sunday, April 28 are yet to be released. The San Antonio Police Department highlighted that nearly half of this year's DWI busts occurred over the first weekend, with the daily arrest tallies peaking at 18 on Saturday, April 20. “SAPD always encourages citizens to plan a sober ride ahead of time, not just during the Fiesta season. SAPD DWI traffic enforcement is out in full force every night, looking for drunk drivers that may be out on the roadways. Think ahead, Plan a sober ride, don’t drink and drive," according to a statement obtained by MySA.

In comparison, the figures released by KSAT similarly indicate arrests have dropped significantly, with this year's tally at 114, a substantial decrease from the 151 arrests made during the same period last year. The report also noted a tragic twist to this year's Fiesta, with a reported intoxication manslaughter case involving a motorcyclist who allegedly killed his passenger after a festival event. 

Texas law takes a firm stand against drunk driving, with a first-time DWI offense carrying severe consequences including fines, potential jail time, and the loss of driving privileges, according to KSAT.