Austin Police Say Every Weekend Through September Will Be ‘No Refusal’

The City of Austin website declared that from March 3rd through the 20th, the No Refusal initiative would go into effect. They explained that the dates coincided with college students’ spring break and the SXSW festival. Now that those events are over, KXAN reports that No Refusal will remain in effect every weekend through September.

From 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., Friday through Sunday, those who are pulled over due to the suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol will have to give either a blood or breath sample. Detectives will be available to order a blood search warrant if they refuse to cooperate. According to KXAN, “Grants from the Texas Department of Transportation made the initiative possible.”

The Austin Police Department hopes to show drivers that they are cracking down on drunk driving. During SXSW this year, Austin police arrested and charged 202 people who were driving under the influence between 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Super Bowl weekend was another busy time for No Refusal arrests with 50 charged drivers.

Lt. Blake Johnson told the news, “It is about keeping unsafe drivers off Austin roadways and keeping the public safe. No Refusal ensures that we have solid blood alcohol content evidence of every arrest and as such enhances our ability to prosecute people who drive drunk and put others in danger.”