(Rockwall County) August 22, 2012 – Law enforcement agencies from across Rockwall County will conduct a DWI No Refusal Program during the upcoming Labor Day holiday. This is a program whereby warrants will be sought to draw blood from individuals who are suspected of driving while intoxicated and have refused to provide a breath or blood sample. Said evidence is then sent to an accredited lab to determine the driver’s blood alcohol level. The program will take place from Friday, August 31 at 12:01 a.m. until Tuesday, September 4 at 5 p.m.
Rockwall County Criminal District Attorney Kenda Culpepper said that the program continues to be a collaboration between law enforcement, the District Attorney’s Office, and community interests. Lake Pointe Medical Center and Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall will provide trained phlebotomists to draw blood, and Rockwall Municipal Judge Cathy Penn, Royse City Municipal Judge Paul Liston, McLendon-Chisholm Municipal Judge Andrew Leonie, and Rowlett Municipal Judge Pam Liston will work in shifts to review and consider the approval of the blood draw warrants.
The law enforcement agencies involved in the program are the Heath Department of Public Safety, Rockwall Police Department, Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office, Rockwall County Constables, Rowlett Police Department, Royse City Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Prosecutors will also work in twenty-four hour shifts to answer questions from law enforcement.
“We continue to believe that this strategy is a proactive approach to improve public safety during holiday weekends,” said Culpepper. “If it encourages people to refrain from driving while intoxicated or to use a designated driver, we feel confident that the program is worth the time and expense the county puts into it.”
Submitted by Kenda Culpepper, Rockwall County Criminal District Attorney.
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