In Austin, Texas, drunk driving accidents have increased over the past few years. In 2012, the Austin police department reported 33 drunk driving accidents. In 2013, they hit 33 accidents within the first three months of the year. The final numbers for 2013 have not been reported yet. Experts are expecting those numbers to climb more in 2014.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are fighting for a change to decreasing drunk driving accidents in Texas. Texas is one of 12 states that do not have sobriety check points. MADD is fighting for more police check points and high visibility enforcements in Texas. Studies show that check points have led to a 20 percent drop in injuries and death due to drunk driving. Having these check points on the roads forces people to think twice before driving and to drive more carefully and safely.
There is a reason why Texas does not have check points. According to a lawyer with the Texas Civil Rights Project, sobriety check points can be dangerous. There is concern that having check points can prompt law enforcement officials to abuse the system. Even though there is no immediate push to have check points in Texas, one change that is getting attention is ignition interlocks for DWI offenders.
Drunk driving accidents can cause irreversible damage. One Texas victim in particular wishes that there had been a check point when she got into her accident with a drunk driver 13 years ago. For this woman, having a check point in Texas is not about police abusing the system, but rather preventing another person from being a victim of drunk driving like she was. Even though Texas does not currently having a check point system, Texas courts are available to help victims of drunk driving get help and receive compensation for pain, suffering and loss.
Source: keyetv.com, APD: Drunk Driving Numbers Up In Austin, Ericka Miller, Jan. 9, 2014