Just over a week ago, many football enthusiasts in Texas and throughout the country enjoyed watching Raiders star Josh Jacobs score a winning touchdown in the Pro Bowl with less than 30 seconds left to play in the game. About 12 hours or so after the game, Jacobs was involved in a motor vehicle collision. His car had crashed into a tunnel wall near an airport. Jacobs’ celebratory mood no doubt came to an abrupt halt when the police who responded to the scene wound up arresting him in suspicion of drunk driving.
If a Texas police officer makes a traffic stop or responds to the scene of an accident, he or she may ask a driver to take a field sobriety test or preliminary breath test if there is reason to believe the driver is drunk. No driver is obligated to take such tests. There are no legal or administrative penalties for refusing to comply. However, most people think it is better if they cooperate, especially if they know they have not been drinking.
In Jacobs’ case, he ultimately submitted to a blood test in Las Vegas, where the crash took place. Results showed his blood alcohol content level (BAC) was below the percentage that legally prohibits a person from operating a motor vehicle. He did, however, receive a citation for failing to reduce his speed as needed in a specific set of circumstances.
An arrest for suspected drunk driving in Texas or any other state can have negative effects on a person’s reputation or career. Even in situations like Josh Jacobs’ case, where a blood test has shown a person’s BAC to be under the legal limit, the mere fact that an arrest occurred can have lasting, negative consequences. If a person believes he or she was arrested without cause, there are legal options available to address the matter in court.