The Laredo Police Department is running two safety initiatives from Oct. 30 through Nov. 1 to protect trick-or-treaters and partygoers. The department is working with the Webb County District Attorney's Office and Doctors Hospital on a "no-refusal" operation aimed at suspected drunken driving. Under the program, if a driver stopped on suspicion of driving while intoxicated refuses a breath test, a judge will be available around the clock to issue an immediate search warrant for a blood draw.
Officials said the public will not pay for mandatory testing. Ricardo Gonzalez of the Laredo Police Department said the costs will be imposed on people convicted in DWI cases during the restitution phase. District Attorney Isidro Alaniz said the goal is to keep the streets safe.
Laredo police officers are also conducting neighborhood compliance checks on registered sex offenders. Under city guidelines, registered sex offenders must keep their porch lights off over the holiday weekend and are barred from giving out candy. Lt. Gilberto Benavides said families can check the Texas DPS Sex Offender Registry by entering a zip code to see a map of registered offenders' addresses. Police ask residents to report any registered sex offender who hands out candy or leaves a porch light on.