Dallas police officers fear there will be more intoxicated drivers on the road early Friday than in past New Year's Eve celebrations.
That's in large part because of the Cotton Bowl taking place at AT&T Stadium late Thursday.
"It's the first time that's ever happened like this. The Cotton Bowl is always such a big game, but now it means so much more than instead of just a regular bowl game," said Cheston Christie, co-owner of Christie's Sports Bar in Uptown. "So we think tonight could be big for us."
The Cotton Bowl, a semifinal in the College Football Playoffs this year, coupled with normal New Year's Eve crowds at bars, restaurants and nightclubs, also means it could be an extra dangerous night on North Texas highways.
That's why Dallas law enforcement is running a no-refusal weekend. That means officers can quickly get a warrant to draw blood if a driver suspected of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol refuses a breathalyzer. The no-refusal weekend began at 6 p.m. Thursday and lasts until 6 a.m. Monday.
"Between this and the Fourth of July, the level of intoxicated drivers on the roadways increases tremendously," said Dallas Police Sgt. Fred Fairley. "It's one of the busiest nights when people decide to get behind the wheel when they're intoxicated."
Fairley supervises the Dallas Police DWI Unit. Over the past two decades, he's worked at the scene of countless drunk-driving wrecks and had to deliver the news to many families that a drunk driver stole someone's life.
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"I think we all take it personally because we have family members that drive on these same streets, and unfortunately it can happen to anyone of us," Fairley said.
That's why he works New Year's Eve, patrolling the streets and looking for drunk drivers that he can get off the roads.
"The 'no refusal' means that even if you refuse a blood draw we can very quickly get a warrant ready," he said. "The process of making a drunk driving arrest, especially if someone isn't cooperating, can be very time-consuming. This makes it more efficient."
