I remember way back in 1997 when a friend from Galveston, and I, went out to party in southwest Houston right after we graduated college. I think we may have left early that night, at maybe around 8:30pm or 9ish, so we could grab some liquor get a good few hours of prepartying in prior to our debut on the club scene.
And there we were. Speeding like maniacs in our cars, following each other quasi-racing, as we left the east side, took I-10 West towards downtown Houston, then swung south at downtown on Highway 59 on our way to a nightclub on Bissonnet St. Before you know it, it was 10:30pm and we wouldn’t have too much time to hang out with our buddy, that we normally visit, who lived in the area near the club we were visiting.
We had a few drinks and were on our way out the door, on the way to the club which was about 2 blocks up the road. We took my car since I was the least buzzed.
We passed the first traffic light, then we noticed red and blue lights flashing behind us.
You know what it is. Its the police.
A Houston DWI Arrest in the Making
We looked at each other and it seems we had the same thought; “There’s no way we’re drunk, so we’re good.”
After stopping for the police, they claimed to have smelled what they assumed was alcohol on our breath. Both of us being law students, we realized that if we try to beat the rap, we won’t beat the ride. However, there was a local attorney that visited our class and said to always be polite and honest with police, but with judgment.
The reason he said to use good judgment was because sometimes you can talk yourself into an arrest, and other times not talking can be construed as a refusal to cooperate.
Dealing with the Houston Police Department during DWI stops is a delicate situation which deserves care. We told the Houston police officer that we were from the east side of town, as evident by the address on our drivers licenses, and stopped by a friends house before heading to the club.
He asked us if we had been drinking, and I said yes, but I was not intoxicated because I intended to get sloppy drunk at the club and was saving some space. He laughed and let me off with a warning for running a stop sign 2 miles back before we got back on Bissonnet. Seems he had been following behind us in his squad car for a while.
Arrested for DWI in Houston or Galveston?
If you or a family member has been arrested by police for a DWI offense in Houston, Galveston, or League City, and are facing a court date in Harris County, or Galveston County, contact a lawyer who can help you fight the charges in the court of law. DWI can be charged as a felony offense, or a misdemeanor depending on the details. Talk with an attorney for information about what can do if you’ve been charged with a DWI.
The DWI Arrest That Never Happened
