12 people arrested for DWI in a week in Cedar Park: police

CEDAR PARK, Texas - A dozen people have been arrested in a week for driving while intoxicated in Cedar Park, prompting the police department to speak out on social media.

What they're saying:

The Cedar Park Police Department shared on Facebook on July 28 that in the last week, 12 people had been arrested for DWI.

"If we're catching 12, how many did we not catch?" Cedar Park Police Commander Chanse Thomas said.

Several of those arrested had BACs more than three times the legal limit. 

In Texas, the legal BAC limit is .08, even though at as little as .02, you can experience impacts to your driving ability, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"Quite disturbing. These aren't people that were just barely buzzed, which is still drunk driving, these are people that were highly intoxicated, which has cause for concern because when you're that intoxicated, you don't have control of yourself and you put the public in danger," Commander Thomas said.

Thomas said many of the DWI arrests they make are from officers proactively looking for dangerous drivers, but sometimes, and even this past week, these drivers are involved in crashes.

"There's innocent people out there that are out enjoying the things that our city has to provide with their families at times and they get struck by a drunk driver and they're either seriously injured or killed. Then I'd also like to point out that there's several victims of drunk driving, the officers, first responders, firefighters, EMS that have to respond to these things and they see the carnage and the heartache, our dispatchers have to hear the pleas over the phone from people who encounter these bad crashes, our records personnel have to read these reports. It's just, everyone gets impacted by the sadness of these incidents," he said.

"We make arrest after arrest, but sometimes it doesn't seem to have any real deterrent effect, but we're going to keep doing it because we're passionate about saving people's lives," Thomas said.

Statistics on DWI

By the numbers:

The Texas Department of Transportation says that in 2024, there were 22,708 DUI-alcohol-related traffic crashes in Texas, resulting in 1,034 fatalities and 2,242 serious injuries.

About four percent of all traffic crashes and about one in four traffic fatalities in Texas last year were related to alcohol.

In Texas, one person dies about every eight-and-a-half hours in a DUI-alcohol-related crash, and nationally, one person every 42 minutes or about 34 people a day, says NHTSA.

NHTSA says in 2023, about 30% of the 40,901 traffic fatalities in the country were from alcohol-related crashes, and Texas had the second-highest percentage of those (40%), surpassed only by Hawaii (42%).

In Williamson County, TxDOT data shows that there were 391 total alcohol-related crashes in 2024, with eight fatalities and 36 suspected serious injuries.

In comparison, neighboring Travis County had 1,182 total alcohol-related crashes in 2024, with 42 fatalities and 83 suspected serious injuries.

TxDOT data further breaks it down by city/town, showing Cedar Park had no alcohol-related fatalities last year, but 36 crashes. Data shows elsewhere in Williamson County:

• Georgetown - 0 fatalities, 65 total crashes
• Round Rock - 1 fatality, 129 total crashes
• Liberty Hill - 0 fatalities, 6 total crashes
• Leander - 0 fatalities, 32 total crashes
• Taylor - 0 fatalities, 6 total crashes
• Hutto - 0 fatalities, 9 total crashes

In comparison, Austin had 21 fatalities and 916 total crashes.

What are the consequences of DWI in Texas?

Dig deeper:

TxDOT breaks down the financial/legal consequences of DWI convictions for those over 21:

First offense

• Up to a $2,000 fine
• Up to 180 days in jail upon conviction with three mandatory days
• Loss of driver's license for up to a year

Second offense

• Up to a $4,000 fine
• One month to a year in jail upon conviction
• Loss of driver's license for up to two years

Third offense

• A $10,000 fine
• Two to 10 years in prison
• Loss of driver's license for up to two years

These fines do not include a state fine of $3,000, $4,500, or $6,000 assessed upon sentencing.

If you're caught driving impaired with a child passenger under 15, you will be charged with child endangerment, says TxDOT. You will also face a fine of up to $10,000 and could serve up to two years in jail. You will also lose your license for an additional six months.

Drivers and passengers can be fined up to $500 for having an open alcohol container in a vehicle.

TxDOT says that a DWI could cost up to $17,000 in fines and fees, or even more if you are court-ordered to pay restitution.

Under 21

If you're under 21, it is illegal for you to buy, have or drink alcohol in any way, shape or form and illegal to drive with any alcohol in your system, says TxDOT.

If you are convicted of driving under the influence (DUI), you could face:

• A fine up to $500 if under 17, or up to $2,000 if between 17 and 20
• The loss of your driver's license from 60 days up to one year
• 20-40 hours of community service
• Mandatory alcohol awareness classes

Impact to your drivers' license

The Texas Department of Public Safety outlines the driver's license-related consequences of DWI convictions in Texas.

21 or older

If you are 21 or older at the time of the violation and convicted of DWI, a court may require one or all of the following:

• Complete an Alcohol Education Program; this can include a 12-hour DWI Intervention Program or a 32-hour DWI Repeat Offender Program
• Serve a driver's license suspension for a period not to exceed two years and pay a $100 reinstatement fee, in addition to paying any other outstanding fees
• Obtain a Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate (SR-22) from an authorized insurance company and maintain it for two years
• Serve probation, including completing a 12-hour alcohol education program unless the requirement is waived and submitting evidence of completion within 180 days from date of conviction or risk revocation of your driver license
• Install an ignition interlock device on your vehicle as a condition of driving and apply for an Interlock Restricted driver's license

DPS says that if your driving privilege is also suspended, you may be eligible to apply for an Occupational driver's license if you need to drive for work or other essential purposes during the suspension period.

Under 21

DPS says if you are under the age of 21 at the time of the offense and convicted of DWI, your driver's license will be suspended for one year, and subsequent alcohol-related offenses could result in your license being suspended for 18 months.

Before you are allowed to renew or get your license, you must:

• Serve the required suspension period
• Obtain the Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate (SR-22) from an authorized insurance company and maintain it for two years
• Pay a $100 reinstatement fee, in addition to paying any other outstanding fees

A minor may receive a 90-day driver's license suspension if the convicting court orders community supervision that requires the installation of an interlock ignition device. You will be required to apply for an Interlock Restricted driver's license to be eligible to drive.

The court may also require the completion of a 12-hour alcohol education class (failure to complete this class will result in an additional 180-day suspension and a $100 reinstatement fee).

Minors can also face additional suspensions of their license for: 

1. Purchase of Alcohol
2. Attempt to Purchase Alcohol
3. Consumption of Alcohol
4. Possession of Alcohol
5. Misrepresentation of Age
6. Public Intoxication

Commercial Driver Licenses (CDL)

If you hold a commercial driver's license and are convicted of DWI, your CDL will be disqualified, according to DPS.

HB 393 now in effect

In 2023, Gov. Greg Abbott signed HB 393 into effect, which requires someone convicted of intoxication manslaughter who kills a parent with young children to pay child support until the children are 18 or has graduated from high school, whichever is later. 

What can I do to not drink and drive?

What you can do:

TxDOT recommends if you plan on drinking, plan not to drive and instead:

• Plan a safe way home in advance
• Designate a sober driver, and take turns, if going out with friends
• Use a taxi or rideshare, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation
• Talk to your bartender to help get a safe ride home
• Stay put until sober if you can (remember, food and caffeine do not sober you up, only time can)

NHTSA also recommends that if you know someone has been drinking, do not let them get behind the wheel. Instead, take their keys and help them arrange a sober ride home. 

If you are hosting a party where alcohol will be served, you should also make sure all guests leave with a sober driver, says NHTSA.

"You have to plan safely so that innocent people and yourself don't get hurt or killed in the process," Commander Thomas said.

Crime and Public SafetyCedar ParkTexas