San Antonio's crackdown on drunk driving appears to be yielding tangible results, with the Bexar County District Attorney's Office tightening restrictions on plea bargains for individuals facing their first DWI offenses. According to a report by KENS 5, the new policy no longer allows for pleading down to a lesser charge if the offender's Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is over 0.15, if there was an accident, or if the offender has a previous DWI-related charge.
The DA's stance comes as a direct effort to combat drunk driving and hold offenders accountable.“As we know, these crimes are 100% preventable,” Natalie Paulus, Victim Services Manager with MADD, told KENS 5. Supporting the policy change, she expressed that the district's approach will ensure all alleged offenders are held to their actions.
In tandem with these judicial adjustments, Bexar County is also reporting a dip in DWI arrests over the New Year's holiday weekend. A report from FOX San Antonio indicates a drop to 81 arrests over a four-day span, compared to the same number of arrests in a shorter three-day period the previous year.
Efforts by local law enforcement to spread awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving seem to be resonating with the public."Through our social media and just the constant messaging of, 'Plan ahead, don't drink and drive,' I think the message got across," said Sgt. Washington Moscoso of the San Antonio Police Department in a statement obtained by FOX San Antonio.
