Labor Day - DWI Enforcement 2007

August 31, 2007 - From August 15th through September 3rd, the Houston Police Department will be out full force enforcing a DWI Labor Day crackdown. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) grant-funded called Impaired Driving Mobilization (IDM) program will be enforced in conjunction with the regular DWI patrol units that work the streets.

The Houston Police Department was awarded $241,360 for the IDM grant from TxDOT in order to beef up DWI enforcement during this time period. The program enables the police department to have additional specialized, trained officers on the streets every night during this time period to remove those drivers suspected of being DWI. Officers who are specially trained in DWI detection will be working on overtime from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. every day

This program is an ongoing endeavor of the Houston Police Department and TxDOT in order to crack down on drunk driving and is part of a larger program the HPD participates in every year.

The IDM grant address the following four enforcement periods during the year: Christmas / New Years, Spring Break, Independence Day and Labor Day weekend.

The program runs citywide with an emphasis on major thoroughfares and freeways.

According to MADD, Harris County leads the nation in the number of people killed by drunken drivers. This year the enforcement period has been extended to address all the additional motorists who will be on the streets. Officers will have a no tolerance policy for underage drinking and driving.

The message is clear: “Don’t drink and drive!”

JGA/MES 8-31-07

For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.