Police will be out in force to safeguard against DWI drivers
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

Wharton County hasn't had a Christmas or New Year's auto fatality this decade, and ongoing enforcement crackdowns are designed to keep anyone from becoming a sad statistic.

"Remembering that Christmas is a time of peace, love and joy, Texas motorists need to be respectful of other drivers," Department of Public Safety Senior Trooper Gary Pflughaupt said.

Increases in public intoxication and driving while intoxicated arrests are a holiday norm, El Campo Police Chief Jim Elliott said.

"We encourage those who drive to locations to celebrate, drive safely, use your seat belt, don't drink and drive, he added. "A citation or arrest can ruin your holiday celebration."

Law enforcers are targeting speeders, drunken drivers and seat belt violators from now until the first of the year.

"Those individuals who think they must operate a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol pose a tremendous risk, not only to themselves, but to innocent citizens as well," Pflughaupt said.

Elliott added, "We encourage motorists to report unsafe driving. You may save a life."

This holiday season law enforcers have a new arsenal in their fight against intoxicated drivers.

As of Sept. 1, any magistrate in the county can sign an evidentiary search warrant to draw blood in a DUI or DWI case.

So if a suspect refuses the breath test, an evidentiary search warrant to draw blood will be obtained.

"Wharton County is using this new law to combat drunk driving," Pflughaupt said. "Anyone planning to consume alcoholic beverages should have someone else - who hasn't been drinking - drive them home."

During the Christmas and New Year's holidays last year, DPS troopers made 1,253 DWI arrests and issued 27,032 speeding tickets and 1,183 seat belt citations. In addition, troopers issued 1,326 tickets for child safety seat violations.

In West Wharton County, the Leader News edition right after Christmas reported six people arrested for DWI, six for public intoxication, one for fighting and one for assault during that same time.

"Your chances of getting arrested for DWI or receiving a traffic citation nearly double during increased enforcement periods like Operation Holiday," DPS Director Col. Thomas A. Davis Jr. said.

"Traffic crash death notifications are never easy, but they are even more difficult during the holidays. Our hope is that our efforts, combined with other law enforcement across the state, will save some people from needless traffic deaths during the holiday season."

Some good driving habits to employ:

• Slow down - speed is the number one killer on Texas roads.

• Don't drink and drive; get a designated driver.

• Buckle up everyone in the vehicle.

• Keep cell phone chatter to a minimum.

• Drive with courtesy; spread the Christmas cheer.

• Slow down in bad weather, construction areas and heavy traffic.