As a community, we must take a strong stance and combine our resources to combat the threat to those who travel our roadways. Victim’s advocates, prosecutors, TxDOT, MADD, the media, and law enforcement make a formidable opponent to those who drink-and-drive, speed, race, or display aggressive driving behaviors. Acting with one voice, this is our Fatality Crash Reduction Strategy.
Each month our program will roll out a new enforcement program designed to gain and sustain media interest in our community’s fatality crash reduction efforts. The Houston Police Department and law enforcement agencies throughout the region along with corresponding District Attorney’s offices will target traffic crimes in a campaign to reduce the number of fatality crashes in the region. We will partner with the media, providing access to our enforcement teams via ride-alongs and dash-cam video releases of dangerous drivers whose cases have been adjudicated. Our public awareness campaign will feature the following law enforcement programs.
No Refusal Nights –Joint initiative between the HCDA, HPD, and MADD in which suspects arrested for driving under the influence who refuse to provide a sample of their breath or blood for analysis will be served with a search warrant, filed by an on-sight assistant district attorney and signed by an on-call judge. A nurse, paid for by MADD, will be on-sight to perform the blood draw authorized by the search warrant.
Aggressive Driver Program – Unmarked vehicles within the HPD fleet equipped with radar, video, and police radios will patrol our freeways and major thoroughfares in search of aggressive drivers. These unmarked units will serve as spotters to identify and establish probable cause for those who engage multiple moving violations and excessive speed. The unmarked units will radio information concerning the identity and direction of travel of aggressive drivers to marked units positioned in the area as interceptors. Marked units will intercept and stop aggressive drivers identified by the spotter units.
BAT Mobile Deployment –Using state-of-the-art technology, six (6) mobile DWI processing units will be brought on-line for rapid evaluation and processing of motorists suspected of DWI. Experts in DRE and DWI recognition will be teamed with processing units who will transport DWI suspects to mobile processing units (BAT Mobiles) and complete the prisoner processing paperwork and charges.
Vehicle Seizure – In a joint effort between HPD and HCDA, the Houston Police Department will implement a new process which will allow for the seizure of vehicles owned and driven by habitual DWI offenders, racers, and those who attempt to evade arrest using a motor vehicle.
Additional initiatives will be announced and promoted throughout the balance of the year, including but not limited to our STEP overtime programs, expansion of the Truck Enforcement Unit, and DWI squads. Our objective is to cast a wide net for dangerous drivers, creating an omni-present feeling among the driving community that law enforcement is working to identify and take legal action against violators. Key to making this program successful is the partnerships formed throughout the greater Houston area and getting the message out to the public.
