Harris County recently received the number one spot for alcohol-related traffic deaths out of the country’s 10 largest counties. The county is not pleased about this ranking and plans to do something about it.

The county’s answer lies in a new program that will involve multiple agencies. According to the Houston Chronicle, “Operation Shared Responsibility…will combine enforcement and public education to reduce drunken driving.”

This program began Saturday. Officers will target specific areas over the coming weeks. Unlike past initiatives, they will not announce where their enforcement will be.

Across the city and state, police are cracking down on DWIs. If you or someone you know has been charged with a DWI, contact a Houston DWI Defense Attorney at Johnson Johnson & Baer, P.C., by dialing 713-222-0400.

Police are still looking for 26-year-old Raul Eulises Velasquez, a suspect in a fatal hit and run accident. According to the Houston Chronicle, “Velasquez was southbound on a Southwest Freeway service road around 3:25 p.m., Saturday, swerving in and out of traffic at high speeds before he lost control of the midsize car and hit a pole, police said.” He caused a crash that killed a four-year-old and injured four passengers.

23-year-old Elizabeth Diaz and 21-year-old Caesario Olvera are still unconscious at Memorial Hermann Hospital. They are unaware that their four-year-old passed away or that their other son, three, is at Texas Children’s Hospital being treated for minor injuries. Lambart Alvarado was also a passenger in their vehicle. He remains in critical condition.

According to police, Velasquez is charged with failure to stop and render aid. He also has two prior DWIs.

Drunk driving is a serious offense. If you or someone you know has been charged with drunk driving, contact a Houston Drunk Driving Attorney at Johnson Johnson & Baer, P.C., by dialing 713-222-0400.

Police are not identifying a suspect who drove the Toyota Camry that killed three teenagers in an accident Friday in Houston.

Authorities say the Camry was traveling north on the Highway 59 feeder. KHOU reports, “he ran a red light and smashed into a Ford Excursion traveling east on the Sam Houston Tollway feeder.”

The Excursion was full, “carrying a man, a woman and five teenage girls,” according to KHOU. The vehicle was then sent right into a utility pole. Three of the teenagers, who were not wearing seat belts, were thrown from the vehicle. Of those, two died on the scene, and one died at the hospital Sunday.

If blood tests reveal that the Camry driver was above the legal alcohol limit, he could face three counts of intoxication manslaughter.

Lawmakers came together Thursday to discuss current DWI laws as well as proposed ones for the future. According to the Austin-American Statesman, “Texas leads the nation in the number of DWI fatalities, which has dropped slightly in recent years but still was 1,269 last year. The number of DWI arrests is also one of the highest in the country.”

Of the old laws, lawmakers looked into reforming both the automatic license revocation as well as hefty fines. Testimonies revealed that the fines are hurting more than they are helping.  Some said offenders are breaking other laws to pay the fine or electing to serve jail time. Neither one of those helps solve the alcoholism problem. Others added that license revocation just forces drivers to drive without a license and, eventually, without insurance.

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo recommended implementing tougher laws, such as sobriety checkpoints and car breathalyzer devices for first-time offenders.

If you or someone you know has been accused of a DWI, call the Houston DWI defense attorneys at Johnson, Johnson, & Baer, P.C., by dialing 713-222-0400.

Former NFL quarterback, Dan Pastorini, was suspected of drunk driving in Bryan. According to KBTX, “The former Houston Oilers player was arrested in April after a late night traffic accident.”

Pastorini said no to a breathalyzer. A search warrant was issued for his blood. The results have come in, and the Brazos County Attorney’s Office is continuing with the prosecution. They have not released the numbers, but the Attorney’s Office believes they are high enough to proceed.

The former Oiler was in Bryan for a charity gold tournament.

If you or someone you know has been charged with a DWI, you need someone you can count on to be on your side. Call the Houston DWI defense attorneys at Johnson, Johnson & Baer, P.C., by dialing 713-222-0400.

My Fox Houston reports that 29-year-old Kevin Ware was arrested by police on Washington Avenue Sunday in the wee hours of the morning.

The intoxicated Ware attempted to flee from a police officer. My Fox Houston reports that, at this point, Ware was arrested for assault. He was taken to Harris County Jail.

Ware played for the Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers, according to Fox. Police have now officially charged him with misdemeanor escape.

If you are accused of intoxication assault, contact a Houston intoxication assault lawyer at Johnson, Johnson, & Baer, P.C., by dialing 713-222-0400.