Don’t celebrate America’s freedom locked up.

Once again, Tarrant County is implementing a “No Refusal” campaign over the Fourth of July holiday in an effort to combat drunk driving. The initiative will run during the hours of 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

During this four-day period, participating police agencies will use search warrants to take blood specimens from people who are arrested for driving while intoxicated but refuse to take a breath test.

This initiative is funded by a $300,430 grant which expanded the “No Refusal” program from two holidays to seven and pays for nurses to perform blood draws at the North Richland Hills Police Department and the Fort Worth Police Department’s Training Academy, among other things.

As usual, those who are arrested and charged with an alcohol-related driving offense during a “No Refusal” campaign will have their names and ages published on the DA’s website, www.tarrantda.com.

“We continue to support “No Refusal” because we believe Tarrant County citizens should be able to travel public roadways without putting their lives at risk,” said Assistant District Attorney Richard Alpert. “Ending up dead or in jail is a poor way to celebrate our country’s independence.”

Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office