3rd Annual ‘No Refusal’ Weekend
EDINBURG – Local law enforcement’s crackdown on driving while intoxicated is underway in the Rio Grande Valley.
Earlier this week, the Hidalgo County district attorney held a press conference to announce the third annual "No Refusal" weekend.
"It's not just state wide but nationally. In Texas, someone is injured or killed in an alcohol-related accident every 20 minutes,” said Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra
The campaign started after Hidalgo County District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez took more of a notice to the number of fatalities during Labor Day weekend on the roads.
The law allows every peace officer during the whole year if there's a stop and enough probable cause the law enforcement officer may get a search warrant. This also allows them to draw blood from the individual stopped.
The only problem is they have to wait for a judge to be available to issue that warrant. During the "No Refusal" weekend, judges in the county will be on-call to issue those warrants.
Basically, law enforcement officers will not be taking “No” for an answer when it comes to drunk driving during the Labor Day weekend.
"I miss you a lot, papito" Maria Garcia told CHANNEL 5NEWS with tears in her eyes. She lost her youngest son, Herman Hernandez Jr., to a drunk-driving incident.
Hidalgo County officials mention because of budgeting they cannot afford to have a "No Refusal" weekend year-round.
Cameron County, being a smaller county, does have the “No Refusal” act all year.
The "No Refusal" weekend will be from Thursday Aug. 31 to Sunday Sept. 3.
It will be a 24 hour patrol by law enforcement to stop drinking while driving. They encourage everyone to find a sober ride this weekend.