Harris County Leads the Nation in DWI-Associated Deaths

Harris County Leads the Nation in DWI-Associated Deaths. Harris County “time and time once more” leads the nation in DWI-related deaths, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner mentioned shortly earlier than a multi-agency process power of space legislation enforcement companions arrested and jailed no less than 104 individuals for driving whereas intoxicated between December 29, 2023, and January 1, 2024.

These arrests had been amongst no less than 213 DWI arrests made throughout Harris County over the vacation weekend, says Harris County District Legal professional Kim Ogg.

She mentioned a number of DWI command facilities had been arrange in order that legislation enforcement officers might get drunk drivers off the streets as quickly as doable.

Others arrested for unlawful gunfire in Houston space

Additionally arrested and jailed within the Houston space over the vacation weekend had been 7 individuals for firing weapons into the air as a part of New Yr’s Eve and New Yr’s Day celebrations.

In line with KHOU Channel 11 Information, Finner mentioned Houston Police acquired a whole bunch of calls about folks taking pictures weapons into the air early Monday morning.

“You’re firing a gun into the air, and a bullet has to land someplace,” says Andy Kahan of Crime Stoppers. “It’s simply completely a sickening feeling when you need to discuss to a household who simply misplaced a cherished one as a result of somebody was, quote, taking pictures a gun up within the air to have a good time the harboring of a brand new 12 months.” He mentioned such gunfire “isn’t the brightest concept on this planet.”

Finner mentioned 3 individuals reported that they had been struck by stray bullets, however he mentioned their accidents weren’t life-threatening.

DWI arrests are year-round

Simply earlier than the weekend, Finner mentioned town of Houston had tallied greater than 5,100 DWI arrests in 2023.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez mentioned one other 1,500 DWI arrests had been made in Harris County.

Ogg mentioned hundreds of DWI prices had been filed in 2023, and 44 of these prices had been filed as intoxication manslaughter.

Intoxication manslaughter can imply 20 years in jail

Intoxication manslaughter is the worst drunk-driving offense. It’s a really severe cost that may carry extreme penalties upon a conviction. The cost can also apply if a non-driver causes somebody’s loss of life accidentally or by mistake as a consequence of being intoxicated.

The offense of intoxication manslaughter is a second-degree felony. Upon conviction, that may convey a jail sentence of two to twenty years and a tremendous of as much as $10,000.

The penalties could be even worse if the sufferer is a police officer, a firefighter, a choose or emergency medical personnel engaged in official duties. That may increase the cost to a first-degree felony, which may convey punishments of 5 years to life in jail.

As for an arrest for DWI as a primary offense, if an individual has a measurable blood alcohol content material (BAC) between 0.08% and 0.15%, that could be a class B misdemeanor, but when the BAC was 0.15% or extra, the offense turns into a category A misdemeanor.

The penalty for a category B misdemeanor in Texas is serving as much as 180 days in jail, paying a tremendous of as much as $2,000, or each. The penalty for a category A misdemeanor in Texas is serving as much as 1 12 months in jail, paying a tremendous of as much as $4,000, or each.

Past these punishments, an individual might have their driver’s license suspended for as much as 1 12 months, even for a first-time intoxication offense. The injury to an individual’s popularity and standing additionally might lead to them shedding employment or job alternatives.

Texas has highest share of drunk-driving deaths

In line with Forbes Advisor, Texas has the very best share of drunk-driving deaths in america, with 963 such deaths in 2023. These symbolize over 42% of all Texas visitors deaths.

The report additionally discovered Texas to be the third-worst state for drunk driving. (Montana and South Dakota had been first and second within the survey, which computed outcomes primarily based on per capita inhabitants figures.)

Texas additionally ranked because the second-worst state for the share of drunk drivers concerned in deadly crashes (8.3 per 100,000 licensed drivers).

Forbes additionally mentioned Texas had the third-highest charge of drunk drivers beneath the age of 21 who had been concerned in deadly crashes.

Get the perfect Houston-area DWI protection lawyer

For those who or a cherished one faces a cost of DWI within the Houston space, you could get the finest DWI protection lawyer or lawyer you could find.

Remember that being charged with DWI or another intoxication offense in Texas doesn’t imply that you simply’re responsible and shall be convicted by a jury. However you have to a talented, educated and skilled DWI protection lawyer to deal with your case.

What are protection methods for a DWI cost?

As for what DWI protection methods could also be doable to struggle such a cost, your drunk driving protection lawyer could possibly set up that arresting law enforcement officials lacked a authorized motive to cease you.

Maybe it additionally might be argued that you weren’t legally intoxicated. To show intoxication, it have to be proven that the motive force had a BAC of greater than 0.08%. As well as, it might be established that authorized strategies weren’t used to take breath or blood samples to measure your alcohol consumption.

Even when such a take a look at was taken legally, it might be asserted that the outcomes weren’t correct as a result of breathalyzers and blood assessments typically are unreliable. Across the nation, hundreds of breathalyzer assessments have been thrown out of courtroom as proof as a consequence of such unreliability.

It additionally could also be doable to ascertain that you weren’t, in reality, the motive force of the motorized vehicle in query.

Contact the award-winning Neal Davis Regulation Agency right this moment to seek the advice of with an skilled Houston-area protection lawyer about your case. For those who face a drunk-driving cost of DWI or another felony offense, our legislation agency could also be simply what you might want to defend your authorized rights.

Contact us right this moment to rearrange your non-public session.