As the confetti settled following New Year’s Eve celebrations, Tarrant County officials continued their hard-nosed approach to curbing intoxicated driving, reasserting the "no refusal" policy that operates throughout the year. Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells issued a blunt reminder that the indulgences of the holiday season provide no exemption from the law. “If you drink and drive, we will prosecute you,” Sorrells stated, as per the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office, “There’s no reason anyone should drive intoxicated.”
The no refusal initiative dictates a straightforward premise: If a motorist declines a breath test on suspicion of drunken driving, officers will seek a warrant to test their blood. Indeed, it’s illegal across Texas to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent, or higher. Despite these clear-cut laws, Tarrant County arrested 47 individuals for DWI offenses as the new year dawned – a figure Sorrells advocates to bring down to zero. "Let's get that number to zero," he urged, as cited by the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office.
It's not just about staying out of jail for Sorrells, though. The crux of his message is one of safety and responsibility, per the Tarrant County CDA: “Get a ride from a friend, or a ride share service,” he advised, “Designate a sober driver. Be responsible.” His comments actively promote the use of alternatives to impaired driving, which have been bolstered in effectiveness and prevalence by modern technology and services.
