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Safe Communities is a coalition centered, data driven model, which is a collaboration of citizens and agencies for injury prevention.

The Driver Safety Public Education Campaign focuses on reduction of injury and death from motor vehicle crashes. It is funded by the Texas Department of Transportation.

Alcohol and drug-related traffic offenses, commonly known as driving while intoxicated (DWI), are frequently prosecuted criminal offenses, and also carry with them administrative penalties. If the alcohol concentration in a person's blood, breath, or urine is .08percent or greater, the person is considered intoxicated by law.

Texas DWI

- In 2013, 12 fatalities occurred in alcohol related motor vehicle crashes in Nueces County.- In Nueces County, 36.3% of motor vehicle crash fatalities (33) were alcohol related, a higher rate than for Texas at 32.2%

Nueces County

CRIS, TxDOT

In Nueces County for 2013, alcohol related crashes resulted in 160 serious and132 other injuries.

In Corpus Christi for 2013, 1,203 persons were arrested for DWI. This is a 33.9% increase in arrests from 2011.

Nueces County DWI

CRIS, TxDOT

CCPD

- Of the 3,377 people fatally injured in Texas crashes in 2013, 1,089 died due to a crash involving alcohol.-Also, 8,843 persons were seriously injured in alcohol related crashes.-The rate of alcohol involvement in fatal crashes was more than 5 times as high from 6pm to 4am as during the rest of the day.

Texas DWI

CRIS, TxDOT

» Impairment begins with the first drink

» Gender, body weight, the number of drink consumed, and the amount of food in one’s stomach all affect the ability to handle alcohol.

» Women, younger people, and smaller people (whether male or female) often have lower tolerances, and become impaired more quickly.

» Only a few drinks are needed for all people to become impaired and for some, legally intoxicated.

» These signs of impairment are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’ DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Manual:

+Straddling center or lane marker

+Turning with a wide radius

+Almost striking object or vehicle

+Weaving

+Driving on other than designated roadway

NHTSA

+Eye fixation +Tightly gripping the steering wheel

+Face close to the windshield +Slouching in the seat +Gesturing erratically or obscenely +Drinking in the vehicle +Driver's head protruding from the vehicle

NHTSA

» For persons who are stopped for suspicion of DWI in Texas, Standard Field Sobriety Tests or SFST, are generally used to determine if a person has been driving while intoxicated.

TXDPS

» Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus or HGN is an involuntary jerking of the eyeball which occurs naturally as the eyes gaze to the side.

» When a person who is impaired by alcohol, Nystagmus is exaggerated and occurs at lesser angles.

TXDPS

»The Walk and turn test and one-leg stand test are “Divided Attention” tests that are suppose to be easily performed by most sober people.

» Instructions must be followed while following simple physical movements.

»Difficult for impaired persons.

TXDPS

»Subject is directed to take nine steps, heel-to-toe, along a straight line.

»The suspect must then turn on one foot and return in the same manner in the opposite direction.

TXDPS

»Suspect is instructed to stand with one foot approximately six inches off the ground and count aloud (one thousand one…etc) until told to put the foot down.

TXDPS

» Depends upon the cumulative total of indicators provide by the three-test battery.

» The greater the number of indicators, the more convincing the testimony.

TXDPS

» SFST is administered according to national standards and is supported by significant research, therefore, it has greater credibility than mere subjective testimony.

» Testimony is sufficient for conviction.

TXDPS

Penalties

First Offense: (Class B Misdemeanor)

• Up to a $2,000 fine

• 3-180 days in Jail

• Loss of drivers license up to 1 year

• Alcohol Education program is required within 6 months or license is suspended until completed

• Annual fee of $1,000 to $2,000 for 3 years

Second Offense: (Class A Misdemeanor)

• Up to a $4,000 fine

• 30 days-1 year in Jail

• License Suspension from 6 months to 2 years

• If 2nd offense is within 5 years of 1st, a minimum of 1 year license suspension

• Annual fee of $1,500 or $2,000 for 3 years

Penalties

Penalties

Third Offense: (Third

Degree Felony)

• A fine of up to$10,000

• 2-10 years in penitentiary

• Suspension of license 6 months to 2 years

• Annual fee of $1,500 or $2,000 for 3 years

» Whether you’re the driver or the passenger, you can be fined up to $500 for having an open alcoholic container in a vehicle

» You can be charged with child endangerment for driving while intoxicated if you’re carrying passengers younger than 15 years old.˃ DWI with a 15 or under passenger involved is

punishable by:

+ A fine up to $10,000,

+ Up to 2 years in jail

+ Loss of your drivers license for 180 days

After two or more DWI convictions in five years, you must install a special ignition switch that prevents your vehicle from being operated if you’ve been drinking.

Penalties for Boating or Flying While Intoxicated are the same as for DWI. Also, Federal law may apply to Pilots.

» Minors who purchase, attempt to purchase, posses, or consume alcoholic beverages, as well as minors who are intoxicated in public or misrepresent their age to obtain alcoholic beverages, face these consequences:

˃ Class C Misdemeanor,

˃ Fine up to $500

˃ Alcohol awareness class

˃ 8 to 40 hours of community service

˃ 30 to 180 days loss or denial of driver’s license

Under the law, Minors with any detectable alcohol in their system while driving may be fined up to

$500, serve 20 to 40 hours community service, receive a license

suspension of 6 months, and be required to attend a mandatory

alcohol awareness class.

►The DPS estimates that a first offense DUI costs at least $3,180 and could cost as much as $17,438.

►These costs include fines, fees, attorney fees, and other expenses, but do not include lost income due to lost work time and any liability costs.

Time of Day Single Vehicle Multiple

Vehicle

Midnight to 3am 77 73

3am to 6am 66 53

6am to 9am 22 13

9am to Noon 15 10

Noon to 3pm 17 12

3pm to 6pm 30 21

6pm to 9pm 49 38

9pm to Midnight 64 54NHTSA

1) Designate a Driver

2) Call a Taxi

3) Call a friend or familymember

4) FIND A SOBER RIDE HOME

5) Take the bus

6) Stay where you are!

IF YOU DRINK:

Contact Us:safe.communities@tamucc.edu