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Coppell, Carrollton police, troopers arrest 100 for DWI
By DAN EAKIN, deakin@starlocalnews.com
More than 100 people have been arrested for driving while intoxicated in the Coppell-Carrollton area since a joint campaign between police and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers was initiated last November.
Carrollton and Coppell police agreed to work together to keep as many drunk drivers off of the road during the holidays as possible. This meant, when necessary, they could cross each other’s city limits in order to make arrests.
Sgt. Andrew Horn of the Carrollton Police Department said Carrollton police arrested a total of 23 persons for driving while intoxicated between Friday, Dec. 28 and Tuesday, Jan. 1. Carrollton police had arrested 32 between Dec. 20 and Dec. 24, and 35 between Nov. 15 and Nov. 18.
Sgt. William Camp of the Coppell Police Department’ traffic unit, said a DPS trooper arrested one for DWI in Coppell on Nov. 15, and the Coppell police made similar arrests on Nov. 16, Nov. 17, Dec. 20 and Dec. 30.
“We focused on three weekends in particular: Nov. 15–17, Dec. 20–22, and Dec. 28–31,” Camp said. “DPS troopers joined our task force for just the first two weekends.”
He said the New Year’s holidays resulted in fewer DWIs than were expected in Coppell.
“While we had our normal patrol officers and two DWI Task Force officers searching for intoxicated drivers on New Year’s Eve, we did not make a single arrest for DWI that night, nor did we have any DWI-related traffic crashes,” he said.
He added, “I did, however, note a high number of taxis on the roadway after midnight. Perhaps people were taking precautions.”
While not a part of the official DWI Task Force, and outside of the designated weekend efforts,” Camp said, “Coppell officers arrested one subject for DWI on Dec. 22 and a second subject for DWI on Dec. 23.”
Other DWI arrests made during November and December other than on the three designated time periods by Carrollton and Coppell police and DPS troopers brought the total DWI arrests during the two-month period to more than 100.
Arrests were made with the ‘No Refusal” order in effect for testing for alcohol levels in blood systems. Officers and troopers were prepared to seek search warrants to obtain blood samples from those arrested.
Coppell Police Chief Mac Tristan noted, “Although all three agencies routinely enforce intoxicated driving laws, the holiday season has an increased potential for drivers to make the dangerous decision to drive after drinking, and a combined effort helped to combat this problem.”
He added, “The family of someone killed by a drunk driver is not going to be concerned about where city limits start and end. A drunk driver just outside the city limits of Coppell poses just as serious a threat to our roadways and our community. We were glad to partner with Carrollton and the Texas Highway Patrol.”
Carrollton and Coppell police agreed to work together to keep as many drunk drivers off of the road during the holidays as possible. This meant, when necessary, they could cross each other’s city limits in order to make arrests.
Sgt. Andrew Horn of the Carrollton Police Department said Carrollton police arrested a total of 23 persons for driving while intoxicated between Friday, Dec. 28 and Tuesday, Jan. 1. Carrollton police had arrested 32 between Dec. 20 and Dec. 24, and 35 between Nov. 15 and Nov. 18.
Sgt. William Camp of the Coppell Police Department’ traffic unit, said a DPS trooper arrested one for DWI in Coppell on Nov. 15, and the Coppell police made similar arrests on Nov. 16, Nov. 17, Dec. 20 and Dec. 30.
“We focused on three weekends in particular: Nov. 15–17, Dec. 20–22, and Dec. 28–31,” Camp said. “DPS troopers joined our task force for just the first two weekends.”
He said the New Year’s holidays resulted in fewer DWIs than were expected in Coppell.
“While we had our normal patrol officers and two DWI Task Force officers searching for intoxicated drivers on New Year’s Eve, we did not make a single arrest for DWI that night, nor did we have any DWI-related traffic crashes,” he said.
He added, “I did, however, note a high number of taxis on the roadway after midnight. Perhaps people were taking precautions.”
While not a part of the official DWI Task Force, and outside of the designated weekend efforts,” Camp said, “Coppell officers arrested one subject for DWI on Dec. 22 and a second subject for DWI on Dec. 23.”
Other DWI arrests made during November and December other than on the three designated time periods by Carrollton and Coppell police and DPS troopers brought the total DWI arrests during the two-month period to more than 100.
Arrests were made with the ‘No Refusal” order in effect for testing for alcohol levels in blood systems. Officers and troopers were prepared to seek search warrants to obtain blood samples from those arrested.
Coppell Police Chief Mac Tristan noted, “Although all three agencies routinely enforce intoxicated driving laws, the holiday season has an increased potential for drivers to make the dangerous decision to drive after drinking, and a combined effort helped to combat this problem.”
He added, “The family of someone killed by a drunk driver is not going to be concerned about where city limits start and end. A drunk driver just outside the city limits of Coppell poses just as serious a threat to our roadways and our community. We were glad to partner with Carrollton and the Texas Highway Patrol.”
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