New Texas DWI Task Force Addresses "Over-Serving" Issue

A newly formed Texas law enforcement task force is aimed at stopping bar owners from serving already intoxicated patrons.

2012-09-06

September 06, 2012 (Press-News.org) New Texas DWI Task Force Addresses "Over-Serving" Issue

An ongoing effort in Montgomery County, Texas, is trying to cut down on the number of DWI-related deaths. The impetus for the effort was a series of fatal, wrong-way accidents on Montgomery County roads in early July 2012. The DWI task forces, made up of local law enforcement, representatives from the county attorney's office, members of the Texas Department of Public Safety and agents of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, are trying a new tactic to keep drunk drivers off the road: stop the flow of alcohol right at the source.

The goal of the task force is to keep the roads safe and ensure that drunk drivers do not climb behind the wheel. There are a variety of ways in which the task force and other law enforcement and community activist organizations aim to do that:
-Educating the public about increased DWI enforcement by state and local police
-Keep a "community watch" presence on the roads who record video of alleged drunk drivers and alert authorities
-Ensure that bars, restaurants and lounges are not serving alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 21
-Remind the owners of bars, restaurants, lounges, pool halls and other establishments serving alcohol about the consequences of over-serving intoxicated patrons

What Is Considered "Over-Serving?"

The law is a bit vague on the issue of over-serving, but generally, the task force is trying to keep servers and business owners from continuing to sell alcohol to a patron who is already visibly intoxicated. An extreme example of the over-serving issue is the two drivers now facing intoxication manslaughter charges who allegedly caused the aforementioned fatal accidents earlier this year; reports indicate that each driver was served over 20 alcoholic beverages in a matter of hours before taking the wheel.

The consequences of over-serving are steep. Business owners, waiters/waitresses and bartenders found to be over-serving drunken patrons face criminal penalties including possible jail time and fines of up to $4,000. A business found to be repeatedly over-serving or whose over-serving led to an injury-causing accident could find its liquor license revoked and face other administrative action.

With such severe consequences at risk, if you are charged with DWI or are a server/establishment owner who allegedly over-served a patron, seek the counsel of a skilled criminal defense attorney. Having someone at your side who is familiar with both the criminal and administrative aspects of alcohol-related charges can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case.

Article provided by Law Offices of Gary Churak, P.C.
Visit us at www.garychuraklaw.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Georgia Restaurateurs Subject of Dram Shop Claim in Federal Court

2012-09-06

Georgia Restaurateurs Subject of Dram Shop Claim in Federal Court The Neighborhood Dining Group operates a series of popular restaurants that feature some of the finest selections Southern dining has to offer. Moreover, what would a good Southern meal be without an accompanying cocktail? However, while one or two aperitifs may enhance the dining experience, things can get out of control quickly when alcohol is over-served to a patron about to drive. This is just what the family of Quentin Miller is alleging in the crash that took his life earlier this year. Victim's ...

New Legislation on Sinkholes Could Hurt Property Owners in Florida

2012-09-06

New Legislation on Sinkholes Could Hurt Property Owners in Florida Sinkholes are a natural geologic event and fairly common occurrence in Florida. They can range in size from small and shallow depressions to large holes that can consume multiple buildings. The presence of a sudden sinkhole on one's property can lead to a significant amount of damage, and large insurance claims. According to the Insurance Journal, private insurers reported to the Office of Insurance Regulation that the number of sinkhole property damage claims increased from just over 2,000 in 2006 ...

Fifth Circuit Limits Reach of Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA)

2012-09-06

Fifth Circuit Limits Reach of Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) In a somewhat surprising move, the federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently issued a verdict that has limited the reach authorities have over certain people convicted of federal sex crimes. Background of the Kebodeaux Case The case -- Fifth Circuit No. 08-51185, U.S. vs. Kebodeaux -- involves a Texas resident (and former servicemember) convicted in 1999 of having "carnal knowledge of a child" under Article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Kebodeaux ...

Child Custody: Fathers' Rights Then and Now

2012-09-06

Child Custody: Fathers' Rights Then and Now After what appeared to be a long and contentious child custody battle, entertainer Usher Raymond was recently granted primary custody of his two sons with former wife Tameka Foster. While there was a time when mothers had the advantage walking into a child custody dispute, the ruling reflects a shift in child custody law which has leveled the playing field for fathers. From the English-based common law doctrine of paternal rights to the "tender years" doctrine to today, the evolution of child custody laws in the United ...

Social Media's Role in Your Divorce

2012-09-06

Social Media's Role in Your Divorce Digital technology and social media are ever-present in American's lives. Accordingly, when couples divorce, social media is playing a role in the divorce process. Information shared on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter may have been the catalyst behind the divorce, or they may serve as an evidentiary goldmine during a contested proceeding. Knowing how social media sites and digital technology can affect a divorce is important for anyone in this information age. The Break-Up Did Facebook cause your break-up? According ...

Workplace Fatalities Increased in 2010, Federal Report Shows

2012-09-06

Workplace Fatalities Increased in 2010, Federal Report Shows In 2010, the number of workplace fatalities in the United States rose 3.3 percent from 2009's numbers, to a total of 4,690 worker deaths. While several large workplace disasters contributed to the increase, 4,551 workers not involved in these tragedies were killed on the job. What Were Common Causes of Workplace Fatalities in 2010? Transportation accidents were the number one cause of workplace fatalities in 2010, causing 1,857 deaths nationwide and increasing by 100 from 2009. The second most common ...

Summer Road Trips Often End in Tragic Accidents

2012-09-06

Summer Road Trips Often End in Tragic Accidents Summer road trips can be fun for the whole family. They are full of sun, fun and memories. Unfortunately, though, summer road trips can also end in tragedy. In fact, eight of the ten deadliest days on the road all take place between Independence Day and Labor Day. Furthermore, the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is tragically known as the "100 deadliest days on the road for teens," and data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that August is the deadliest month ...

Florida Foreclosures Continue to Increase

2012-09-06

Florida Foreclosures Continue to Increase In the last 12 months, home prices have increased in Miami, Fort Myers and other Florida resort communities. Despite the improvement in house prices, Florida foreclosures continue to escalate at a rapid rate. Economists warn that the sudden upswing in home value is not a sign that Florida's foreclosure crisis is over. In fact, Florida's distressed property inventory is estimated at 1.1 million. That number includes: -530,000 homes where the mortgages are 90 days delinquent and subject to foreclosure -200,000 Real Estate ...

New York Workplace Injury Attorneys Trolman, Glaser & Lichtman Win Appeal of Construction Accident Case

2012-09-06

The personal injury attorneys at Trolman, Glaser & Lichtman recently received a favorable appellate court opinion after a long court battle. The case (index #19005/06) involved a 23-year-old construction worker who fractured several bones after falling from a ladder. The worker had to undergo two surgeries as a result of his injuries. A personal injury lawsuit was filed against the owner of the premises on which the worker was hurt. As noted in the appellate opinion, the court had previously granted a motion for summary judgment holding the property owner liable, ...

Missed Goals & Budget Cuts Adds to New Jersey's Child Welfare Concerns

2012-09-06

Recently, the U.S. District Court Judge who is in charge of supervising the court-appointed monitoring of New Jersey's child welfare system voiced his concerns regarding budgetary cuts to the department's funding. Specifically, the judge's concerns stemmed from a recent $11.5 million cut to New Jersey's Department of Child and Families -- which includes the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS). In response to the budget cuts, the Star-Ledger reported that federal judge Stanley R. Chesler was concerned that "[e]very gain which we have made will start to vanish," ...

Adolescent boys who experience violence have up to 8 times the odds of perpetrating physical and sexual intimate partner violence that same day, per South African study collecting real-time data over

Critically endangered hawksbill turtles migrate up to 1,000km from nesting to foraging grounds in the Western Caribbean, riding with and against ocean currents to congregate in popular feeding hotspot

New Texas DWI Task Force Addresses "Over-Serving" Issue

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: