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<\/p>\nSAN ANTONIO \u2014 Fiesta is known for its vibrant parades, packed crowds, and celebration across San Antonio. But for police, it also means something else: an increase in drunk driving.<\/p>\n
Last year, San Antonio police made 147 DWI arrests during Fiesta, a slight increase from 2024. Officers say those numbers are why they ramp up enforcement every year.<\/p>\n
The News 4 I-Team got an exclusive look at that effort, riding along with the San Antonio Police Department\u2019s DWI unit as they patrolled the streets during Fiesta.<\/p>\n
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SAPD ramps up Fiesta patrols, surges DWI efforts to target impaired drivers<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re out there, we are patrolling, and we are looking for drunk drivers,\u201d said Officer Domonic Muro with the DWI unit.<\/p>\n
During Fiesta, police are surging resources, watching for any signs of impairment.<\/p>\n
On the ride-along, officers made multiple stops, some ending in warnings, and others led to arrests.<\/p>\n
In one case, officers pulled a woman over and asked about how much she’d had to drink. She admitted to having a few drinks with colleagues before starting to drive home.<\/p>\n
After performing sobriety tests, the woman ended up in handcuffs, arrested after officers say she showed signs of impairment.<\/p>\n
Officers say you put a lot at risk when you drink and drive, for yourself and those on the road around you.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a very bad thing to do. You\u2019re just putting a lot at risk,\u201d said Officer John Maines, a longtime member of the DWI unit.<\/p>\n
Maines says he\u2019s seen firsthand how quickly a celebration can turn into a crash.<\/p>\n
While not every stop results in an arrest, officers say visibility is key.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to reduce the amount of damage that it can cause, and that\u2019s why we try to have more officers out and more visible,\u201d Maines said.<\/p>\n
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SAPD ramps up Fiesta patrols, surges DWI efforts to target impaired drivers<\/p>\n
And stopping DWIs doesn\u2019t begin on the road. It starts where alcohol is served.<\/p>\n
At Fiesta events, vendors are trained to recognize when someone has had too much.<\/p>\n
Walter Martinez has been serving drinks at the Fiesta Carnival for a decade and says the vendors’ role is important for overall public safety.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes you have to politely cut them off,\u201d Martinez said.<\/p>\n
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is the agency that issues Fiesta permits for vendors and provides that important training.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are truly the first line of defense when it comes to ensuring that people stay safe,\u201d said Chris Porter with TABC.<\/p>\n
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SAPD ramps up Fiesta patrols, surges DWI efforts to target impaired drivers<\/p>\n
Police urge people to plan ahead before heading out \u2014 whether that means using a rideshare, VIA\u2019s park-and-ride system, or choosing a designated driver.<\/p>\n
Because if you don\u2019t, the consequences can be steep.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can get a shocking number of Ubers for my DWI fee,\u201d said attorney Joe Hoelscher.<\/p>\n
Hoelscher says arrests tend to increase during Fiesta, and with that, longer waits in jail are also possible.<\/p>\n
“The more people who are arrested at once, the longer that process takes. Historically, we’ve seen people arrested during Fiesta for DWI wait up to two or three days to be released,” Hoelscher said. \u201cTry to have a designated driver. Try to have a plan.”<\/p>\n
At the end of the night, officers say the message is straightforward: \u201cIt\u2019s just not worth it,\u201d Maines said.<\/p>\n
“Nowadays, there are so many options that DUI shouldn’t even be an option anymore,” Muro added.<\/p>\n