The number of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) cases are not different than they have been in the past according to Brownwood Chief of Police Mike Corley; however the Brownwood Police Department is out in higher numbers and alert, watching for cases of drunk driving and making arrests.
“I was hoping that we wouldn’t have so many, but we had five this weekend and five last weekend. Part of the increase is that we have more people looking and there are more people out going to parties and celebrations,” said Chief Corley. “Driving while intoxicated is being treated no different now than it’s been, we just have more people out looking for drunk drivers. It doesn’t matter where you are or who you are, we’re going to take you to jail.”
Corley explained his stance on drunk driving by stating that he and the department want everyone to have a happy holiday season without the related tragedy that can accompany drunk driving.
“The holidays are the worst time to have something tragic happen, like someone getting killed in a drunk driving accident. I guess there is never a good time but the holidays make it worse,” said Corley. “I just really don’t want us to have a tragedy this holiday season.”
Corley explained the preventative education and warnings that some drivers just don’t heed, “You try to get people to stop, you talk about it and talk about it but they still do and unfortunately, the way it is going right now, the only way they are going to quit doing it is to get arrested.”
The legal limit is 0.08, which takes more than one drink to reach, according to Corley. He explained that the average person can drink a beer and it typically raises the person’s blood alcohol level to 0.02. Corley further explained that if someone drinks a beer an hour, they shouldn’t meet the legal limit; however the mixed drinks are a little different because they are harder to regulate and more potent.
“The blood alcohol levels depend on your height, weight, and sex. Follow the general rule, if you drink, don’t drive. If you have had one beer, don’t drive,” said Corley. “There is usually someone that is not drinking; have them drive you. You can find a designated driver. If you are throwing a party, plan on people staying the night, call a taxi, there are lots of options rather than driving while you have been drinking.”
Chief Corley also warned not to depend on yourself to evaluate your own sobriety while drinking.
“Don’t evaluate yourself while you are drinking, the way you evaluate yourself after you have had a few drinks is going to be warped,” said Corley.
Corley explained that the effort being put forward to stop drunk driving is not a formal task force but rather more BPD officers on duty each weekend throughout December, working overtime, with their primary work detail focused on working traffic and looking for drunk drivers.
“I hate to resort to scare tactics, but if that is what it takes, then that’s okay. They are out there looking for you if you are drunk,” Corley stated. “We’re going to find you probably.”
Many times the general public also helps round up drunk drivers by calling in others they suspect are drunk and a danger to others on the roadway.
“It’s nice when the public helps out. People will stay at an accident which helps us to put someone behind the wheel and charge them with DWI,” said Corley. “Sometimes they will follow a driver. It’s a credit to the public and the citizens of Brown County. They realize how important and how dangerous it is to drink and drive.”
