San Antonio DWI Arrests Down By 25% - Are Uber and Lyft Ride-Share Programs Responsible?

 Posted on January 03, 2017 in DWI / DUI

One dark and snowy night in Paris, 2008, Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp were frustrated and troubled when trying to hail a cab. Thinking there had to be a better way, their solution would revolutionize how we get from Point A to Point B with just a few clicks on our smartphones. Uber was born.

By downloading the Uber app, we now can rely seemingly on technology to solve

our logistical needs. Need a ride, have a package to deliver or without worry, plan a night out on the town without a possible arrest looming for driving while under the influence (DWI)? With one quick tap of an app, a low-cost car is on its way.

Great ideas beget competition and in 2012, Lyft, another private transportation startup, also launched a mobile app and now operates in 65 countries and the United States and continues to expand its horizons. Uber is doing the same.

Although these private ride-share companies provide transportation for many people for many different reasons it should be evident that by requesting a ride with Uber or Lyft would be instrumental in decreasing the number of DWI arrests and related vehicle accidents.

This question was recently addressed by KENS5 Eyewitness News, San Antonio, Texas. The news broadcast reported that since Uber and Lyft have been operating in the San Antonio area arrests for driving while under the influence has decreased by 25 percent.

Although San Antonio law enforcement cannot explicitly contribute this downward trend directly to the availability of ride-sharing programs, it is notable that from October 2014 through June 2015, without the option of ride-sharing programs, there was a total of 4,3126 DWI arrests. Once Uber and Lyft set up shop in the area as of July 2016 DWIs arrests dropped by 1,079.

The KENS5 news team also interviewed Jason Derscheid, Mothers Against Drunk Driving of South Texas. Derscheid believes the use of Uber or Lyft is popular with millennials as they are accustomed to integrating their smartphones into their daily lives. Although Derscheid sides with San Antonio law enforcement as to the validity of ride-sharing programs being exclusively responsible for lower percentage of DWI arrests, MADD® now officially endorses Uber and Lyft as a safe alternative designated driver option.

If you are planning a night out with friends and have yet to jump on the ride-share program bandwagon, think twice. By using Uber or Lyft you will bypass the consequences of a possible DWI and the serious consequences a DWI arrest can incur. San Antonio criminal defense attorney, Sam H. Lock knows all too well how a DWI can evoke possible jail time, license suspension and large fines. A DWI can also be detrimental to your future. The Law Offices of Sam H. Lock is a full-service criminal defense firm committed to serving clients in need throughout Central and South Texas. If you opted to go it alone and are now facing a DWI, contact our offices at 210-226-0965 to discuss your legal options today.

Sources:

https://www.uber.com/

https://successstory.com/companies/lyft

http://www.kens5.com/news/local/san-antonio-dwi-numbers-down-with-ridesharing-in-place/262069180