AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has announced that officers will be stepping up enforcement of the state's driving while intoxicated (DWI) laws through January 2. TxDOT has made grants totaling $661,955 to 61 Texas cities to help defray expenses to crack down on impaired drivers.
Along with TxDOT, the Texas Department of Public Safety, local police departments and sheriff's offices statewide, the Texas Restaurant Association, the Texas Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage [image-nocss] Commission, the Texas Municipal Police Association and Valero Energy Corp. are also participating in the holiday DWI-prevention campaign.
Patrons at gas stations, convenience stores and restaurants throughout Texas will be seeing reminders such as door decals (pictured) not to get behind the wheel if they have been drinking.
"Officers will be out in force, so we want to remind people to let someone else drive if they've been drinking," said Carlos Lopez, TxDOT's traffic operations director. "Designate a sober driver, call a taxi or just stay put until you can drive safely. We want everyone to have a happy and safe holiday season. That's why extra officers will be on the streets to arrest drunk drivers this month."
Safety advocates credit stepped-up enforcement of the state's DWI laws and ongoing advertising about the penalties for drunk driving with the recent decline in impaired driving fatalities. Federal officials reported recently that 130 fewer people died in Texas last year in alcohol-related crashes than in 2003.
Penalties for a first-time DWI offense include driver's license suspension for up to one year, a fine of up to $2,000 and up to six months in jail.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.