AUSTIN (December 4, 2012)—San Antonio Deputy Police Chief Anthony Trevino wants legislators to consider setting up permanent DWI checkpoints to save lives.
Trevino appeared Monday in Austin before the Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee and urged legislators to allow law enforcement officers to stop drivers and do routine sobriety tests near so-called drinking-and-driving "hot spots."
He said local data could be used to identify areas where such behavior is prevalent.
Trevino said San Antonio this year has had more than 7,000 arrests for driving while intoxicated.
Jim Harrington with the Texas Civil Rights Project argued against the proposal.
He said sobriety checkpoints allow for police manipulation and abuse of power.
The Legislature convenes in January.
