KXAN NBC reports that the Austin Police Department is keeping a list of the bars that last served DWI suspects. They get the information during the questioning of the suspect on scene and prior to the arrest.
“We try to get these officers to ask them, ‘Where have you been drinking?’ If it’s a business establishment. To give us an idea of are there any violations at those businesses that are already serving to people intoxicated?” APD Lt. Craig Cannon said.
APD then hands over the information to TABC. At first blush, this may not sound unreasonable. The problem lies in the method of collecting the data. Once certain bars are targeted by a police department, that becomes the area that DWI task force officers patrol. More officers in a certain area means more detentions, more arrests, and more arrests for DWI. Then more DWI suspects report their last drink came from one of the bars on the list.
As soon as a list is first established, and without using a random or statistically significant sample size, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The current top five on the list are Cedar Street, Rain, Club Carnaval, Blind Pig and Oilcan Harry’s.