Politicians know to say no to blood alcohol test

[sonias]

AAS 2/1/09
Politicians know to say no to blood alcohol test
When Texans are arrested on suspicion of DWI, about half refuse to provide a breath or blood sample. Among elected officials, practically all do.

By Eric Dexheimer
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Sunday, February 01, 2009

State Rep. Mike Krusee was pulled over last April in Northwest Austin after police said they observed him driving erratically. Officers said he failed three roadside sobriety tests.

Krusee, whose DWI case was dismissed in November, disputes that. "I was shocked. I encourage people to look at the dashboard video." Yet when police asked him to blow into a Breathalyzer to measure his body's alcohol content, he refused.

He's not alone. A review of public records and published reports turned up more than a dozen elected officials in Texas — among them representatives, senators, judges and commissioners — who in recent years were arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. In each instance, police on the scene asked for a blood or breath sample to determine whether the driver's blood-alcohol concentration exceeded the legal limit of 0.08.

Interesting. They won't comply with a request but they pass bills to give the law enforcements more power. Now Texas law enforcment can draw your blood against your will if they suspect you of DWI.

Sonia

[cosmik debris]

1. Can't they revoke the driver's license for refusal to take the test?

That was my impression, but I have been confused before. :)

[tbyg52]

2. Even if they could (I don't know)

are they gonna, for politicians? *That's* the rub.

[sonias]

3. Indeed that is the truth

Not too many DPS types are going to "force" a politico to submit to a blood draw.


Sonia

[Baby Snooks]

4. Oh I bet they will....

I bet they will force Krusee to "donate some blood" the next time he is driving erratically, which to date I don't think he ever explained to anyone, and probably do the same to the judge who dismissed the case against him for "lack of evidence."

Sorry but I have no sympathy for the high and mighty who drive around drunk thinking it doesn't matter. It will matter when one of them kills someone. Wait. The daughter of one of them did in Houston. A judge's daughter. She got probation. Anyone else would have been sent to prison.

[sonias]

5. Depends on the cop

I agree with you, they should be treated the same as anyone else, but we know that not all cops do not treat everyone equally under the law. We still have a huge problem with racial profiling in Texas.

Some people are more equal than others, just as you pointed out. :(

Sonia

[tanyev]

6. Laws are for the little people, not them.