The New Year’s holiday will again see all available Texas DPS troopers patrolling area roadways in an attempt to make travel safer by locating drivers who may be intoxicated, as well as speeders and seatbelt violators.
All available troopers will be on patrol today through Sunday, Jan. 3.
During the New Year’s holiday last year, DPS troopers arrested 304drivers for DWI and issued 5,173 speeding tickets and 912 safety restraint violations.
David Baker, assistant director for the Texas Highway Patrol, said the effort is all about safety.
“We want to do all we can to minimize the number of traffic crashes and fatalities during this holiday season. Texas drivers can do their part by designating a sober driver if they’ve consumed any alcohol,” Baker said. “The holidays are no time to spend in jail, but we will arrest any driver who is impaired.”
The DPS also offered the following advice for holiday travel:
- Drive with courtesy; it’s contagious.
- Slow down – especially in bad weather, construction areas and heavy traffic.
- Don’t drink and drive; get a designated driver.
- Buckle up everyone in the vehicle.
- Keep cell phone chatter to a minimum, and avoid texting.
- Avoid drowsy driving.
- Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained.
DPS troopers arrested 304drivers for DWI and issued 5,173 speeding tickets and 912 safety restraint violations
How many of those 304 drivers were convicted? How many spent the night in jail when they weren’t really drunk? How many of those speeding tickets were minor infractions?
Go ahead you press releasing junkies you…show us how productive you are at getting money out of citizens. Of course, you could just issue warnings, right? You have the discretion but then your press releases wouldn’t look so good.
We aren’t really worried because we are all promised due process at $7000 a pop.
They will target people with means. This is all about the money and nothing else. Everyone is careful on these days and there are a few irresponsible drivers, however, it’s all about nailing the guy that is close to or barely .08 and not about getting the guy that is 1.3. The .08 guy has the cash and social standing to pay to get out of the mess, the 1.3 guy is a multiple time loser and will sit in jail and produce no revenue. The 1.3 guy has no license, no insurance and sure doesn’t own property.
I do not condone driving impaired however there is nothing wrong with normal folks having a couple of drinks at a restaurant, bar, or residence. Nothing wrong with the DPS not targeting them as well.
Be safe and watch out for that 1.3 guy. He usually isn’t caught until he hits something.
This should be a very profitable NY holiday for TXDPS. I wonder how much these targeted holidays bring in for the budget?