Posted: Tue, 31 May 2011 12:00 AM - 13,800 Readers

By: Jackie Vega

If you're looking to have a good time on Memorial Day, keep this in mind: Austin police raked in 38 blood draws, not including Memorial Day Monday.

It'll be important to stay safe and stay put if you're drinking, especially since the "No Refusal" initiative is still in place.

Police have been watching even more carefully since Friday for drunk drivers on area roads and lakes. This Memorial Day weekend marked the first time the No Refusal initiative extended from roadways to waterways on area lakes.

That means, if you're caught drinking and driving -- either a car or a boat -- officers can draw your blood with a warrant if you refuse a breath test.

No-refusal number breakdown

Friday

• 5 breath
• 19 blood: 5 consent, 1 mandatory and 13 search warrants -- part of the No Refusal weekend

Satruday

• 5 breath
• 13 blood: 3 mandatory and 10 search warrants -- part of the No Refusal weekend

Sunday

• 4 breath
• 6 blood: 1 mandatory-felony BWI and 5 search warrants -- part of the No Refusal weekend
   

The hot weather on the holiday weekend brought out a lot of traffic on lakes near Austin, with the APD announcing its No Refusal kickoff just in time.

The "Driving While Intoxicated No Refusal Initiative" runs from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Friday through Monday. The Boating While Intoxicated No Refusal Initiative starts Sunday and Monday at noon and goes until 5 a.m.

Police credits the initiative for lowering traffic deaths by 26 percent in the last 10 years.

On the lake, police said they'll be on the lookout for reckless boating or speeding. They'll also do safety checks on as many boats as possible, looking for life jackets for every passenger, a fire extinguisher and a horn on board.

To reduce lake traffic, APD is also banning all personal watercraft on Lake Austin starting Friday at sunset. That ban continues until sunrise next Tuesday morning.

If you have plans to hit one of the areas other lakes, like Lake LBJ, there's no such thing as No Refusal weekends. DPS troopers and game wardens can obtain warrants for forcing blood drawings any time day or night if you refuse a breath test.

*  Story Contributed by: Jackie Vega