Proposed DWAI Laws Could Affect Basin
By: Jackie Smith
Updated: October 20, 2010
Every year about 16,000 people are killed as a result of drunk driving.
In Austin, there is a new campaign to get rid of this problem by creating a new classification for driving while intoxicated.
Its called "driving while ability impaired" which would get drivers - whose blood alcohol content was less than .08 - in trouble.
You could get in trouble with a level between .05 and .07.
This means that even one margarita could get you a ticket.
Restaurant owners in West Texas are hoping this proposal doesn't pass. They fear their business will be put in jeopardy.
"We already pay high taxes, we pay a lot of alcohol fees. Now with this intact I don't think anyone will want to have a margarita with their meal," said Gerardo's Casita owner Jerry Morales.
Jerry morales does not want DWAI passed because in his opinion its bad for business.
He owns Gerardo's Casita in Midland and serving drinks, is not something he wants to loose.
"It harms our sales tax receipts, our tax receipts as a state, it not only affects locally but statewide," said Morales.
But advocates for this new idea believe it won't hurt and can only help.
"This kind of proposal doesn't mean a person can't go to a restaraunt and have a wine or beer. However the logic of washing a down cheesburger with six beers I just cannot understand that," said Charles Hodges the CEO of Stop DWI.
Morales disagrees and believes when a person orders a drink, there not guilty of anything.
"You're not guilty of having a drink or two with your meal and trying to enjoy it and then driving. But you are guilty if you are intoxicated. I think our police department does a great job in enforcing these rules and i don't think anything needs to change," said Hodges.
Change is exactly what hodges thinks needs to happen.
It's the only way he feels people will stop drinking and driving.
"Its gonna be difficult to enforce but this proposal is needed. Texas legislatures need to give law enforcemnt the edge in alcohol related situations," said Hodges.
Now, only time will tell what is going to happen with this proposal.
Morales worries that this could overload an already crowded court system with responsible drinkers.
There is no word yet on what the punishment is for this offense.
