Austin 'No Refusal' Initiative Nets 127 DWI Arrests So Far: Police

Austin Police have already arrested 127 people for DWI during its “No Refusal” holiday initiative, which began December 18, the police department said on Twitter.

Under the DWI effort, police can immediately obtain a warrant to draw blood from drivers suspected of intoxication who refuse a breathalyzer.

Of those arrested so far, 48 consented to a breathalyzer, 14 consented to blood tests and 65 blood tests were conducted with a warrant, police said.

The effort comes at a time when Austin is on track to reach its 100th traffic fatality, a new record that’s been consistently broken since September.

There had been 87 traffic crashes that resulted in 95 fatalities this year at the time the DWI initiative started, compared to 61 fatalities in the same period last year.

The program will end January 3 at 9 p.m.