Police departments across Texas will have extra manpower on the streets Tuesday night to deter drunk driving over New Year’s Eve. Many are running “no refusal” periods where judges are on call to issue warrants for blood draws when police stop a driver they suspect may have been drinking.
The Texas Department of Transportation says 1,090 people died in wrecks where a driver was under the influence throughout 2023, representing about 25% of all crashes.
Dallas County has run a DWI task force the past 40 years.
“The message is not only about education and awareness but also we cannot stay silent,” says Dallas County Commissioner Elba Garcia, who chairs the task force.
Garcia says alcohol was a factor in 2,113 crashes in Dallas County last year. The county ranks second, behind Harris, in the number of deaths attributed to DWI.
“It’s a choice. Drinking is a choice, and if you’re going to drink, don’t drive,” she says.
The organization, 24HourDallas, says 39 businesses have signed up to post a QR code offering a five dollar discount on Lyft rides. The group’s Bryan Tony says businesses open after 6 p.m. have a $15 billion economic impact and support 211,000 jobs.