Sugar Land police arrested 11 people during a special drunk driving enforcement initiative from Dec. 18 through Jan. 3.
The Christmas and New Year’s enforcement effort was funded with a
$7,996 Impaired Driving Mobilization Grant, a cooperative effort of the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement agencies.
“Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs is not worth the risk,” said Sgt. Wayne Coleman, of Sugar Land Police Department’s traffic division. “You are putting your life and the lives of others on the line.”
The STEP grant provided overtime to staff increased traffic enforcement in targeted areas, an extra resource that did not affect the department’s normal operations.
Due to zealous SLPD officers and the inaccuracy of field sobriety tests, probably more than a few innocent folks will have to go through the system and prove their innocence.
After their name has been dragged through the mud and their bank accounts have been lightend, that is. I just don’t trust LE and the court system like I use to. It’s far less than perfect, and far less from perfect than we deserve.
Remember, you can arrest anyone. The question really is.. how many cases will result in conviction? How many cases refused testing and went to the tank. Hey, jaghund… I need the constitution over here.
If you were pulled over and arrested and you don’t want to stay in jail until your trial, this will cost you more than the city recieved to come after you. Probably about $4K to $5K, I really don’t know because I haven’t been caught by the SS yet.
Now..I am sure there were a couple cases where we are all glad the numbskulls were taken off the road and I fully support that. But…you give special money you have to show special results, and this is Sugar Land, not winrock and westheimer. Guess what..you don’t produce, you don’t get the money. And as much as we all hate it…its all about the money. Ask any defense attorney, their Christmas comes right after New Years every year.
11 doesn’t seem like very many to me. How many would they arrest in that time frame usually?