First-term Texas State Representative Victoria Neave was arrested for allegedly driving while intoxicated Tuesday night after her BMW crashed into a tree.
Neave, 36, who was honored about a week ago by her Democrat colleagues as “freshman legislator of the year,” refused to participate in a field sobriety test or submit a blood sample to Dallas cops in the incident that occurred about 11:30 p.m. She subsequently provided a blood sample pursuant to court order, the Dallas Morning News reported. She was booked into the Dallas County Jail about about 3:30 a.m.
A Dallas-area Democrat, Neave is a high-profile opponent of the new Texas law banning sanctuary cities and also a vocal foe of President Donald Trump.
Sanctuary cities are non-compliant with federal immigration law when, in general, it comes to turning over arrestees to ICE for potential deportation.
According to the arrest warrant, the attorney and politician “had a strong odor of alcohol on her, was unsteady, and had bloodshot eyes. Her speech was slurred and she was uncooperative with officers,” Dallas ABC affiliate WFAA detailed.
According to both news outlets, Neave repeatedly told responding officers that “I love you and I will fight for you and I’m invoking my 5th Amendment rights” against self-incrimination.
She posted a $500 bond at the Dallas County Jail and was released Wednesday morning.
The anti-Trump lawmaker prompted headlines for protesting against the sanctuary city law, Senate Bill 4 (SB4), that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed last month and that takes effect on September 1, the Washington Free Beacon explained.
“She gained national attention in April when she went on a four-day hunger strike aimed at stopping legislation that would have banned sanctuary cities. She organized the Dallas Women’s March to protest President Trump’s inauguration and has been praised as a rising star in Texas politics.”
On the national level, President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions have threatened to pull federal funding from any sanctuary jurisdiction, a initiative that is now subject to a court challenge.
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Dallas authorities also allowed Victoria Neave to leave the jail from a special egress out of the eyes of the public, the Beacon added.
“Local Dallas reporter Jason Whitely says that Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez, a Democrat who has had her own stand-offs with Texas Republicans over immigration enforcement policies, let Neave exit jail out of a private exit, allowing her to avoid reporters.”
Earlier today, Rep. Neaves released an apology on Twitter and by video about the drunk driving arrest.
‘Last night, I disappointed my family, my constituents and my supporters. I disappointed myself. I am deeply sorry. I am so grateful that no one was hurt. I will accept the consequences of my actions and will work to make this right.”
Victoria Neave represents east Dallas and the cities of Mesquite and Garland and serves on the Texas House Judiciary Committee. She also apparently co-authored a bill that makes it illegal to text and drive in Texas.
In a bit of irony perhaps, she voted against a bill that would provide state-wide regulation of ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft and supersede municipal ordinances, the Texas Monitor noted. Gov. Abbott signed the measure, HB 100, into law on May 29. Both companies previously bailed on the city of Austin and elsewhere in Texas because of local rules they considered burdensome. They have already resumed operations in Austin and Houston.
Watch this space for updates on the DWI arrest of Texas politician Victoria Neave.
[Featured Image by Dallas County Sheriff’s Department/AP Images]