What is alcohol?What is alcohol?

*Alcohol is a Central *Alcohol is a Central Nervous System Nervous System Depressant.Depressant.

*The first effect of *The first effect of alcohol is impairment of alcohol is impairment of judgment.judgment.

Mental faculties are Mental faculties are affected before physical affected before physical faculties.faculties.

IMPAIRED JUDGEMENT??IMPAIRED JUDGEMENT??

The Great State of Texas The Great State of Texas

Texas StatisticsTexas Statistics

Texas leads the nation in alcohol related Texas leads the nation in alcohol related fatalities and has held this title for several fatalities and has held this title for several years.years.

More people die on Texas roadways due to More people die on Texas roadways due to alcohol related crashes, than in any other state. alcohol related crashes, than in any other state.

One person is killed every 5 hours and One person is killed every 5 hours and someone is seriously injured every 20 minutes someone is seriously injured every 20 minutes by a drunk driver.by a drunk driver.

2006 2006 Texas StatisticsTexas Statistics

The alcohol impaired fatality rate in Texas was The alcohol impaired fatality rate in Texas was 45%, while the national average was 32%.45%, while the national average was 32%.

Texas had a total of 3,466 traffic fatalities.Texas had a total of 3,466 traffic fatalities. Out of that total, there were 1,544 fatal crashes Out of that total, there were 1,544 fatal crashes

due to alcohol impaired drivers.due to alcohol impaired drivers. More than 55% of the impaired drivers involved More than 55% of the impaired drivers involved

in these fatality crashes had a BAC of .15 or in these fatality crashes had a BAC of .15 or greater.greater.

Texas StatisticsTexas Statistics Texas leads the nation in alcohol related traffic Texas leads the nation in alcohol related traffic

fatalities. We also lead the nation in DWI arrests fatalities. We also lead the nation in DWI arrests with an average of 90,000 arrests yearly.with an average of 90,000 arrests yearly.

Four people are killed everyday in the State of Texas Four people are killed everyday in the State of Texas by a drunk driver.by a drunk driver.

Impaired drivers with a BAC level of .08 or higher Impaired drivers with a BAC level of .08 or higher that were involved in a fatal crash are 8 times more that were involved in a fatal crash are 8 times more likely to have a prior conviction for DWI than drivers likely to have a prior conviction for DWI than drivers with no alcohol.with no alcohol.

*What does BAC stand for and what is *What does BAC stand for and what is it?it?

Blood Alcohol ConcentrationBlood Alcohol Concentration

The number of grams of alcohol found in 100 The number of grams of alcohol found in 100 milliliters of a person’s blood.milliliters of a person’s blood.

*What is the BAC for DWI in the State of *What is the BAC for DWI in the State of Texas?Texas?

What is the definition of intoxicated as it What is the definition of intoxicated as it applies here?applies here?

BAC and IntoxicationBAC and Intoxication

A BAC of 0.08% is A BAC of 0.08% is considered legally considered legally intoxicated intoxicated (From Penal (From Penal Code 49.01)Code 49.01) in the State in the State of Texas.of Texas.

Intoxicated means not Intoxicated means not having the normal use of having the normal use of mental or physical mental or physical faculties by the faculties by the introduction of alcohol introduction of alcohol or or drugsdrugs into the body; or into the body; or having a BAC of 0.08%. having a BAC of 0.08%.

Why Enforce DWI?Why Enforce DWI?

Officer Schale with Officer Schale with the Irving Police Dept. the Irving Police Dept. was waiting to assist was waiting to assist motorists whom were motorists whom were following a drunk following a drunk driver. The officer driver. The officer was sitting still and was sitting still and the drunk driver hit the drunk driver hit him at over 60 MPH. him at over 60 MPH.