Slidell Police Participate in “No Refusal” DWI Crackdown

Slidell Police are joining other law enforcement agencies, judges and prosecutors across Louisiana in a new effort to remove drunk drivers from state roads during the Labor Day Holiday.

Slidell is participating in the state’s largest-ever “no refusal” crackdown, a program that greatly reduces the number of DWI suspects who refuse to take a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test.

Although drunk driving is a nationwide problem, it is particularly serious in Louisiana, where almost half of all highway deaths involved alcohol. In 2009, 409 people were killed in alcohol-related traffic incidents in Louisiana.

The “Drunk Driving, Over the Limit Under Arrest.” enforcement campaign runs through Labor Day, which traditionally has been one of Louisiana’s most deadly holiday periods. During last year’s Labor Day holiday, 12 people were killed on Louisiana roads with five of those being in alcohol-involved incidents. Slidell (City Limits) did not have any alcohol related crashes during the 2009 holiday weekend.

Slidell Officers will be aggressively looking for impaired drivers during the crackdown and will arrest anyone they find driving while impaired – regardless of age, vehicle type or time of day. They will also have a new tool to reduce the number of drivers who refuse to take a BAC test.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is working with various jurisdictions on programs to reduce the number of DWI suspects who refuse to take a BAC test. During these no refusal periods, judges are on standby to approve search warrants, based on probable cause, that authorize law enforcement officers to take blood samples from suspects who refuse to submit to a BAC test. When told a search warrant will be applied for, most suspects yield and submit to the test – even before the actual warrant is issued.

Slidell Police will be assisted by Investigators from the St. Tammany Parish Coroners Office who will draw the blood from the intoxicated drivers after the Search Warrant is signed by the on call judge.  A judge has agreed to make himself available on a 24 hour basis to read and approve the search warrants that the arresting officers prepare. 

Chief Smith said “I will have extra officers on the street looking for intoxicated and aggressive drivers.  If you do drink please do not drive, if you are caught driving while intoxicated you will go to jail.