DWI Enforcement in Austin

DWI Enforcement in Austin
There are nearly 1.5 million Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) arrests each year in this country, making impaired driving one of the most frequently committed crimes.

Austin , Texas modified their DWI program in 1999. A key feature of Austin ’s program was the development of a full-time team of DWI “specialists.” These officers patrol the streets in two-person teams, looking for impaired drivers. They are also available to assist general patrol officers in processing DWI offenders thus relieving the burden on those officers so that they can return to their patrol duties.

Austin ’s program includes enhanced training for officers in DWI enforcement. Rookie officers now accompany members of the DWI team for four weeks to gain hands-on experience in identifying and processing DWI suspects. The unit is under the direction of the Traffic Administration Section.The enforcement team, is comprised of eight patrol officers and one sergeant, and concentrates its patrol efforts on detecting and apprehending impaired drivers. Each officer assigned to the DWI enforcement unit receives training in administering the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. They also became certified Intoxilyzer operators, and several have completed a drug recognition course.

While all APD officers receive DWI enforcement training at some point at the APD police academy, many officers have not had recent experience in handling the complicated processing required by this type of arrest. A training videotape was utilized by the Traffic Office to brief all officers assigned to the task force on the proper DWI enforcement procedures. The supervisors of officers requiring additional training notified the Traffic Office for additional training assistance. All DWI task force officers work in uniform and drive marked police units.

The dedicated unit concentrates enforcement efforts on areas where DWI offenses are most likely to occur (e.g., entertainment areas featuring bars and nightclubs) during times when most impaired drivers are on the road (i.e., evenings, weekends and holidays). Typically, the DWI units are dispersed throughout the city, but at times saturation tactics are utilized. In addition to initiating their own alcohol-related arrests, members of the Enforcement Team provide support to regular patrol officers during peak offense times, relieving patrol officers by handling the lengthy processing of DWI arrests..............