HPD, Other Agencies Remind Motorists "No Excuse" for DWI

August 10, 2011 - The Houston Police Department, the Harris County Sheriff's Office, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) announced a joint initiative today (Aug. 10) to remind motorists there are "no excuses" for driving while intoxicated this Labor Day holiday weekend.

Photos of today's news conference are attached to this news release.

Between August 19 and September 5, thousands of state and local law enforcement officers will be outin force to stop and arrest impaired drivers. This initiative is part of HPD's continued efforts to reduce drunk driving accidents and associated fatalities by a combination of public education and a heightened enforcement of drinking and driving offenses.

"In Houston last year, more than 50 percent of our fatal accidents were alcohol related. That's just way too high, it's ridiculous,"said HPD Captain Carl Driskell of the Traffic Enforcement Division. "People are just not listening. If you're going to drink, get a designated driver and that way, you won't spend the night in an orange jumpsuit," Capt. Driskell added.

In 2010, there were more than 25,000 alcohol related crashes in Texas resulting in more than 1,000 deaths. A quarter of those killed in drunk driving accidents were between the ages of 20 and 25.

HPD reminds all motorists there is no excuse for drinking and driving. If you drink and drive, you will go to jail.

KJS 8-10-11
Inc. #103113611