Last week we warned that those in attendance for SXSW should be careful to avoid getting an Austin DWI, as there was no doubt police would be on high alert. Turns out 25 people were arrested between 9pm Friday and 5am Saturday, according to KVUE News.

It was the latest “No Refusal” enforcement from the Austin Police Department, the program where if a driver is pulled over for an Austin DWI, they may not decline to take a breathalyzer test. And if the driver says “no,” the Austin police officer can get a warrant for their blood. The last “No Refusal” enforcement happened on Super Bowl Sunday, when 21 Austin DWI arrests were made.

According to KVUE, nine out of the 25 people arrested for an Austin DWI last weekend gave a breath sample, and the remaining 16 had search warrants issued on them so that APD could draw blood samples. Since the average number of Austin DWI blood draws on other “No Refusal” nights is 25, police noted that 16 was relatively low.

Don’t Get an Austin DWI

An Austin DWI can be a permanent mark on your record — it’s very, very serious. If you’re ever arrested for an Austin DWI, be sure you know your rights. You’ll want to hire an Austin DWI attorney who has a proven record of fighting for clients’ rights. Getting an experienced, knowledgeable Austin DWI attorney like Kyle Lowe on your side can be beneficial, since it’s possible that police officers can make mistakes when it comes to DWI arrests. If you’ve been arrested for Austin DWI, contact attorney Kyle Lowe today for a free case evaluation.

While football fans were done watching the big game and out celebrating — or not, depending on who they were rooting for — the Steelers’ win on Sunday night, Austin Police Department officers were watching for drunk drivers.

From 9pm on Sunday until Monday at 5am, APD’s “No Refusal” policy made it so that drivers could not give “no” for an answer when they were pulled over for a suspected DWI in Austin. This meant, essentially, that if a driver said “no” to a breathalyzer test, Austin police officers would get a warrant for their blood.

Austin DWI blood draws are controversial: many are firmly against them, while others believe they’re a necessary step to keep drunk drivers off Austin streets. Plus, in court Austin DWI blood draws help prove whether a driver was intoxicated.

This isn’t the first time the Austin Police Department has instituted the “No Refusal” policy/Austin DWI blood draws. They’ve done it two times previously.

If you’re pulled over for an Austin DWI, you simply must know your rights.  Provide the Austin DWI officer with your driver’s license and proof of insurance, and be sure not to give any incriminating information. If the officer asks you any incriminating questions, be polite but firm in saying that you respectfully decline to answer any questions until you consult with your Austin DWI attorney, Kyle Lowe.

Austin DWI offenses are very serious, and they can be on your driving record for the rest of your life. If you have an Austin DWI offense, it’s imperative that you hire an experienced, competent Austin DWI attorney like Kyle Lowe to be on your side.

Augie Garrido, coach of the University of Texas at Austin baseball team, has been suspended indefinitely without pay because of his Austin DWI arrest. Once school officials gather more information, they’ll decide what to do in regards to his position at the university.

Garrido was stopped near downtown Austin when he was driving a Porsche Cayenne with the headlights off just before 1AM. Garrido failed a field sobriety test and also admitted to having five glasses of wine and being intoxicated. He had apparently spent the evening at J. Black’s on 6th Street and Eddie V.’s on 5th Street, both in the downtown Austin area. He was booked into the Travis County Jail that night.

The Longhorns’ first baseball game is coming up fast on February 20, when they’ll play the University of Illinois-Chicago. The last time Garrido missed a baseball game was back in 2006 when he was suffering from dehydration symptoms. For now, the Longhorns’ associate head coach and pitching coach will be taking over the team.

Garrido is the highest paid college baseball coach, earning a salary of about $800,000. In 2012, Garrido is expected to be the first college coach to make $1 million or more, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Though he has a five-year contracts that says he’d receive $300,000 per year for each year left on his contract should he be dismissed, this stipulation may not apply if he’s fired for breaking UT’s standard of conduct rules.

Austin DWI Arrests: Know Your Rights

Augie Garrido’s DWI arrest is a great example to us all that you need to know your rights when it comes to Austin DWI arrests. Mr. Garrido admitted to the police officer that he was intoxicated. If you are questioned by a police officer and asked incriminating questions, know your rights. Tell the officer that you respectfully decline to provide any answers until you’re able to consult with your Austin attorney, Kyle Lowe.

Here’s an Austin DWI law update: Cedric Benson charges have been dropped. Grand juries in Travis County have declined to indict Cedric Benson after driving and boating intoxication arrests that happened in Austin this year. Austin residents and Longhorn fans remember Cedric Benson as an All-American running back for the University of Texas at Austin Longhorns in 2004. Soon after, the NFL’s Chicago Bears drafted him — and he got a $17 million signing bonus in 2005.

But earlier this year, Benson was arrested twice on alcohol charges. On May 3, Cedric Benson was arrested for boating while intoxicated. And on June 7, police pulled over Benson for suspicion of drunk driving. The General Manager of the Chicago Bears, after Benson’s second arrest, stated that Benson should be “held accountable for his actions,” and Benson was cut by the team. The Bears had received criticism from the national media because of Cedric Benson’s arrests, so the second arrest was basically the last straw for them.

The Austin-American Statesman interviewed Cedric Benson last week, and Benson noted that there was some cleaning up to do when it came to his public image. But David Escamilla, a Travis County attorney, said that both the boating intoxication arrest and the drunk driving arrest had weaknesses. For instance, there was no field-sobriety test in the boating intoxication incident, and Cedric Benson appeared “very good” on the video for the drunk driving incident.

With the Cedric Benson charges dropped, he’s no doubt relieved and ready to get back out on the football field as soon as possible. But this is a great opportunity for an Austin DWI law update: Cedric Benson’s charges dropped are an example of how beneficial it can be to have a qualified, experienced DWI lawyer on your side. It also shows us that just because someone is arrested for an Austin DWI, it doesn’t mean they’re guilty. But perhaps most importantly is knowing your rights when it comes to Austin DWI arrests. If you are ever asked by a DWI officer, “How much have you had to drink?” remember to respond by saying that you respectfully decline to answer until your Austin DWI lawyer, Kyle Lowe, is present. And keep in mind that one of the most serious crimes an everyday person can be faced with is a DWI, and, still, police officers can make DWI mistakes. A competent Austin DWI lawyer like Kyle Lowe will be able to identify common DWI mistakes and use those mistakes to help your DWI case. If you or a loved one have been charged with a DWI, don’t hesitate to contact Austin DWI lawyer Kyle Lowe to find out what steps should be taken next.