HCSO among agencies out in force for holiday driving

Wed, 12/19/2018 - 12:00am

Road Safety

Staff Reports

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

With holiday traffic ready to begin in earnest, local and state law enforcement agencies are stepping up efforts to increase their presence on crowded roadways and to be on the lookout for traffic law violators.

Count among them the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, who is hopping onboard with a campaign launched by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) aimed at drunken drivers.

“The Hays County Sheriff’s Office and law enforcement officers across Texas will increase DWI patrols to identify and stop impaired drivers as part of the Texas Department of Transportation’s ‘Plan While You Can’ campaign,” HCSO spokesman Lt. Todd Riffe said in a press release. “The campaign aims to decrease crashes and save lives by urging drivers to plan a sober ride prior to driving to their holiday celebrations.” The increased enforcement began Monday and runs through New Year’s Day.

That the holiday season can be a dangerous time for alcohol-related crashes on Texas roadways is borne out by the numbers. In 2017, there were 2,469 alcohol-related crashes in Texas during the holiday season, killing 96 people and seriously injuring another 202.

While drivers under the influence of alcohol risk killing or seriously injuring themselves or others, they also face up to $17,000 in fines and fees, jail time and loss of their driver’s license. The HCSO and TxDOT strongly encourage everyone to plan for a sober ride before the celebrations begin. Visit SoberRides.org to find alternatives to drinking alcohol and driving, such as: