Suspected Drunken Drivers Stuck With Needles

It was an offer motorists couldn't refuse

A blood draw. It’s an offer Dallas motorists suspected of drunken driving couldn't refuse -- at least not this weekend.

During Memorial Day weekend, Dallas police got 12 warrants to draw the blood of drivers who refused a breathalyzer test. It’s part of the no-refusal initiative.

"It's our intent to move these no-refusal initiatives from holiday weekends to make it a 24-hour program," police Chief David Kunkle said.

The no-refusal initiative requires judges be on standby to sign the warrants and nurses be at the jail, ready with needles.

”There always has to be a judge involved,” attorney Peter Schulte said. “If they want to have judges on call around the clock, that's going to get expensive.”

Mothers Against Drunk Driving praised the city's efforts to expand the program.

"People get killed every day," Dallas driver Joleen Ford said. "Why not implement it every day?"

Schulte says he doesn't think it will ever happen -- at least, not in Dallas.

In order for the program to become law, it must pass the state House and get the governor’s signature. Legislation has already passed the state Senate.

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