Category Archives: Traffic Safety Division

Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

DWI Numbers, Don’t Be The Next One

The Corpus Christi Police Traffic Safety Section released statistics related to the offenses associated with driving while intoxicated for the year to date.

The Corpus Christi Police Department has made 973 arrests as of September 30, 2015 for Driving While Intoxicated or Driving Under the Influence.

The Corpus Christi Police Traffic Safety Section further recorded the following statistics:

2015 DWI Stats

973        Total D.W.I. & DUI Arrests as of September 30, 2015

326         Suspects consented to give a sample of their breath
281         Suspects consented to give a sample of their blood
349         Suspects refused  and a  search warrant was obtained 8               Suspects refused  and no evidence was obtained
9              Suspects were DUI arrest and no specimen was obtained

 

109        Felony DWI cases.

67          DWI with two or more prior convictions
13          Intoxicated Assault
27          DWI with Child Passenger
2            Intoxicated Manslaughter

 

.16          Average Breath / Blood results from suspects
(.08 is legal limit)

327         DWI arrest were involved in Traffic Crashes.

 

There were 1407 total DWI Arrest in 2014.

Delta District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Woman Dies In Head On Collision on Harbor Bridge

Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2015, 19:33
Location: State Highway 181 at Belden (Harbor Bridge)
Offense: Intoxicated Manslaughter
Case Number: 1509220149

A woman died in a head on collision on the Harbor Bridge Tuesday night.

Corpus Christi Police responded to a vehicle crash on the southbound lanes of the Harbor Bridge at 7:30pm Tuesday night. Officers learned a Chevy Silverado pickup entered the Harbor Bridge in the wrong direction to travel north in the southbound lanes. Officers learned the truck was involved in a head on crash with a Nissan Xterra on the overpass over Belden Street. Officers believe a white Toyota Corolla was also somehow involved in the crash. The woman who operated the Nissan Xterra and the 48-year-old man who operated the Silverado were taken to the hospital for treatment for their injuries. The woman did not survive her injuries and the 48-year-old man is believed to have non-life threatening injuries. Officers believe the 29-year-old man who operated the Corolla suffered minor injuries.

Officers uncovered information that leads them to believe that the 48-year-old man who operated the Silverado had consumed alcohol and an investigation began to determine if the 48-year-old man was intoxicated. The 48-year-old man was admitted to the hospital for treatment. If Officers believe that it is more likely than not that the 48-year-old man was intoxicated, then the 48-year-old man will be accused of intoxicated manslaughter.

The Corpus Christi Police Traffic Safety Section responded to the crash to gather information and evidence. The southbound lanes of the Harbor Bridge were closed at about 7:45 and all traffic which travelled from Portland to downtown Corpus Christi was directed to the Port Exit at the south end of the Harbor Bridge and the road continues to be closed as of 10:45pm.

The Southbound Lanes of the Harbor Bridge were directed to the Port Exit Image from its.txdot.gov
The Southbound Lanes of the Harbor Bridge were directed to the Port Exit
Image from its.txdot.gov
Community Outreach, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Phlebotomist On Duty Starting Tonight At CDC

The Labor Day holiday weekend often leads to an increase in the number of Driving While Intoxicated arrests made by the Corpus Christi Police Department. We want everyone to enjoy the long weekend and ask that you act responsibly by not drinking and driving in our city. All drivers should avoid the risk of arrest, incarceration or tragedy that is associated with driving while intoxicated.

In an effort to assist law enforcement agencies in the investigation of suspected intoxicated drivers, the Nueces County District Attorney’s Office will provide a trained phlebotomist at the City of Corpus Christi Detention Center from 10pm to 4am on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights,  September 4th, 5th, and 6th .

The Corpus Christi Police Department remains a “no refusal” agency all of the time. However during this holiday period, when a trained phlebotomist is at the CDC, our officers will not have to take suspects to the hospital in order to get a blood sample. This will make the DWI investigation more efficient and will get our officers back on the street much quicker.

Charlie District, Delta District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Patrol Report August 17, 2015

These are a sample of the Criminal Complaints made to the Corpus Christi Police Department over the weekend of August 15-16, 2015.

“Charlie” District

Date: Sunday, August 16, 2015, 2:29am
Location: 3900 South Padre Island Drive
Offense: Intoxicated Manslaughter
Case Number: 1508160028
A 41-year-old man died as a passenger in a vehicle crash at the intersection of South Padre Island Drive and Weber Sunday morning and the operator of the vehicle is accused of an intoxicated driving offense.
Corpus Christi Police responded to a vehicle crash at the South Padre Island Drive and Weber intersection at 2:29am Sunday morning. Officers learned a 39-year-old man drove a Toyota passenger car east on the freeway, navigated the Weber exit but struck the exit sign. Witnesses told Officers the Toyota travelled at a high rate of speed and struck the rear of a Nissan passenger car in the left lane of the South Padre Island Drive access road and caused the Nissan to travel into the intersection of South Padre Island Drive and Weber. Officers learned the Toyota struck a piling for the overpass to where they found the Toyota.
The 41-year-old male passenger in the Toyota did not survive the crash. The operator of the Nissan was a 37-year-old woman who received minor injuries as a result of the crash. The 39-year-old man who drove the Toyota was taken to the hospital for treatment for injuries as a result of the crash.
Officers believe alcohol consumption may be a contributing factor in this crash and so the 39-year-old man is accused of intoxicated manslaughter and will be delivered to the city detention center once he is released from the hospital.

“Delta” District

Date: Saturday, August 15, 2015, 12:41pm
Location: 3057 Greenwood Drive
Offense: Aggravated Robbery (Penal Code Section 29.03) 1st Degree Felony
Case Number: 1508150088
A 45-year-old man reported an aggravated robbery at a convenience store located at 3057 Greenwood to the Corpus Christi Police Saturday.
The 45-year-old man told Officers that he is employed as a clerk at the store and a man entered the store at about 12:40pm, displayed a handgun, and demanded money from the register. The 45-year-old man told Officers he provided the money to the man, and the man walked out the store and left the scene. No injuries or property damage was reported. The 45-year-old man described the suspect as a male with medium brown skin who spoke with a thick Spanish accent, and wore a grey beanie cap and plaid shirt.

Date: Saturday, August 15, 2015, 12:57pm
Location: 301 Mohawk Street
Offense: Aggravated Robbery (Penal Code Section 29.03) 1st Degree Felony
Case Number: 1508150093
A 60-year-old woman reported an aggravated robbery at a convenience store located at 301 Mohawk Street to the Corpus Christi Police Saturday. The 60-year-old woman told Officers that she is employed as a clerk at the store and a man entered the store at about 12:57pm, displayed a handgun, and demanded money from the register. The 60-year-old woman told Officers she provided the money to the man, and the man left the store and got into a black four door Nissan or Neon with black rims and black tinted windows. No injuries or property damage was reported. The 60-year-old woman described the suspect as a male with medium brown skin who spoke with a thick Spanish accent, about 20 years of age and wore a grey beanie cap, plaid shirt, black shorts and brown shoes.

Search the website Crimereports.com to research all reported criminal activity in Corpus Christi. Anyone who knows any additional information about these crimes should contact the Corpus Christi Police Department at 886-2840. Information about unsolved crimes may be provided to investigators anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477) or online at 888TIPS.com. Information provided to Crime Stoppers which results in an arrest may earn the caller a cash reward.

Community Outreach, Traffic Safety Division

First Friday Fun Fact

The Corpus Christi Police Department has a campaign called “First Friday Fun Fact” that will focus on different Texas traffic laws.  It will run on the first Friday of each month. Here is this months traffic fact.

Move minor accidents out of traffic

Have you ever been caught in a traffic jam only to find that it was caused by a minor crash blocking a lane?  Maybe you’ve thought to yourself, “there oughta be a law…”  Well, there is.  The law requires that anyone involved in an accident not obstruct traffic any more than is necessary.  The law even specifically requires that, if an accident occurs on a freeway or freeway ramp in a metropolitan area and all involved vehicles can be safely driven, the motorists involved must move their vehicles off of the freeway immediately.  This is to help prevent a traffic hazard and resulting congestion which, besides unnecessarily delaying others, also increases the likelihood of other accidents.  Many people think that their insurance won’t cover them if they move their cars from the scene before the police arrive, but this is absolutely false.  The police and insurance adjustors can usually determine what happened from the stories of those involved and the damage to the vehicles.  Besides, in the case of most accidents, you legally don’t even need to have the police come to the scene.  But if you’re worried, then quickly snap some pictures of the scene and vehicles with your cell phone camera before you move.

Fender-Bender-image

 

Texas Transportation Code 550.022 – ACCIDENT INVOLVING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE

 the operator of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle that is driven or attended by a person shall:

(1) Immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close as possible to the scene of the accident without obstructing traffic more than is necessary;

(b) If an accident occurs on a main lane, ramp, shoulder, median, or adjacent area of a freeway in a metropolitan area and each vehicle involved can be normally and safely driven, each operator shall move the operator’s vehicle as soon as possible to a designated accident investigation site, if available, a location on the frontage road, the nearest suitable cross street, or other suitable location to complete the requirements of Section 550.023 and minimize interference with freeway traffic.

Failure to move your vehicle out of the traffic lanes could result in you receiving a citation for this violation with fines up to $500.

Delta District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Officer Wrangles Snake At Crash Scene on Harbor Bridge

Corpus Christi Police Officer Jason Lee holds a Ball Python at a crash scene on the Harbor Bridge
Corpus Christi Police Officer Jason Lee holds a Ball Python at a crash scene on the Harbor Bridge
Corpus Christi Animal Care Services accepted to hold this pet named "Rocky" after the snakes owner was taken to jail.
Corpus Christi Animal Care Services accepted to hold this pet named “Rocky” after the snakes owner was taken to jail.

Date: Saturday, July 18, 2015, 7:47am
Location: 2500 State Highway 181 southbound lanes
Offense: Driving While Intoxicated (Penal Code Section 49.04) Class B Misdemeanor
Case Number: 1507180047

A Corpus Christi Police Officer wrangled a snake as he worked a vehicle crash on the Harbor Bridge Saturday morning.

Corpus Christi Police Officer Jason Lee started his shift for the day at 7:38am and responded to a single vehicle crash on the southbound lanes of the Harbor Bridge headed from North Beach to downtown Corpus Christi. Officer Lee saw a green 1997 Chevy Suburban had crashed into the concrete wall on the right side of the bridge. Officer Lee arrested the driver of the Suburban, 40-year-old Andreas Garcia (12/11/1974) for driving while intoxicated. Officer Lee learned that Garcia had a pet snake, a three-foot long Ball Python named, “Rocky” in the vehicle at the time of the crash. Officer Lee discovered that the glass aquarium which housed the snake was broken in the crash and Officer Lee got the snake safely, and requested Corpus Christi Animal Care Services to care for the snake while Garcia was delivered to the city detention center. Animal Care Services did accept the snake and believe the snake was not injured in the crash. Garcia was not injured in the crash and Officer Lee took Garcia to the hospital for medical clearance and to collect a blood specimen for evidence, then delivered Garcia to the city detention center. The Suburban was taken to the city impound lot, and the bridge was returned open to normal use.

Community Outreach, Traffic Safety Division

Friday Fun Fact

The Corpus Christi Police provides information about the Texas Transportation Code as a Friday Fun Fact as a public education campaign.

Sometimes Officers find vehicles, particularly motorcycles, parked in an area of a parking lot that is painted with yellow strips. These “zones” or “architectural improvements” are specifically marked to prohibit vehicles from parking in that location. Such markings most often are to provide an area for handicapped accessibility, either next to the parking space or the end of a sidewalk ramp so that wheelchairs have room to navigate. Don’t park in those areas with the stripes as that can get you the most expensive parking ticket issued by law enforcement, a Handicapped Parking violation.

The Texas Transportation Code section 681.011 (c) states the prohibition as; “(c) A person commits an offense if the person stands a vehicle so that the vehicle blocks an architectural improvement designed to aid persons with disabilities, including an access aisle or curb ramp.”

Most importantly, when you park your vehicle, provide some room and courtesy for those who need it.

The Texas Transportation Code Section 681.011 prohibits parking in architectural improvements such as a painted zone to allow handicap accessibility.
The Texas Transportation Code Section 681.011 prohibits parking in architectural improvements such as a painted zone to allow handicap accessibility.
Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

4th of July Enforcement and Operations

During the 4th of July weekend the Corpus Christi Police Department assigned several additional officers to assist with the large crowds at the beach and in the downtown area.

The following numbers are from the holiday weekend beginning on July 3, 2014  (midnight) and ending on July 5, 2015 (midnight).

3,670    calls for service
534        of those call were solely for fireworks.
557       criminal offense reports were made
10         driving while intoxicated arrests were made.
20         citations for possession of fireworks were issued

Delta District, Patrol Division, Traffic Safety Division

Special Downtown Operations Start Tomorrow

The Corpus Christi Police Department will begin special operations in the downtown area for the July 4th “Big Bang” celebration starting tomorrow morning.

The Corpus Christi Police Department Traffic Division will have thirteen Officers in traffic units and nine on motorcycles that will work beginning at 7 AM with the “Four for the Fourth Four Mile Run” starting at the Ortiz Center.

At 4 PM the Traffic Division will have another fifteen additional Officers report for duty.  These Officers will have stationary post in the downtown area at intersections to assist with traffic flow.

Also at 4 PM the Patrol Division will have twelve additional officers report for duty.  They will ride on ATV’s and most will be assigned to patrol the area along the seawall and parks on Shoreline Drive.   A few other Officers will be assigned to North Beach.

All extra Officers will work until the festivities have concluded.

Community Outreach, Traffic Safety Division

First Friday Fun Fact

The Corpus Christi Police Department will begin a campaign called “First Friday Fun Fact” that will focus on different Texas traffic laws.  It will run on the first Friday of each month. 

TURNING LEFT OVER DOUBLE-YELLOW LINES
One of the biggest misconceptions in the arena of lane markings is the meaning of the double-yellow line with regards to left turns.  A double-yellow line simply means “no passing”; it does not prohibit left turns.  In fact, you are specifically permitted by statute to turn left over double yellow lines:

PASSING TO THE LEFT:  PASSING ZONES

(b)  An operator may not drive on the left side of the roadway in a no-passing zone or on the left side of any pavement striping designed to mark a no-passing zone.  This subsection does not prohibit a driver from crossing pavement striping, or the center line in a no-passing zone marked by signs only, to make a left turn into or out of an alley or private road or driveway.

Additional information
There is an exception to the above rule: if there are two sets of double-yellow lines, you may not cross over at all, including for left turns.  These areas are defined as “flush median islands.”  As such, they have the same purpose and function as a physical traffic island and are legally enforceable as a “dividing space.”  (see below.)  These areas often also have diagonal hash markings to help emphasize that they’re off-limits.