AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Amarillo Police are looking to target drunk and impaired drivers over the holidays, and will have more officers on the streets to help.
The police department said they have received a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation to pay for extra officers to concentrate on DWI enforcement. Expect those stepped up patrols through the New Years holiday.
Amarillo Police laid out some hard numbers and facts on fatal wrecks inside the city limits. So far this year, 22 people have died as a result of wrecks, of those, 9 involved impaired drivers. State-wide in 2009, there were 12,408 alcohol-related crashes that killed 956 people and injured another 17,703.
So, what happens if you get caught?
Another reason, police say, to avoid getting behind the wheel after drinking is the cost associated with a DWI. A first time offense face a fine of up to $2,000, loss of their drivers license up to a year and up to 180 days in jail. By the time it's all said and done, police say an arrest and conviction can add up to more than $17,000. In Texas, the legal limit for intoxication is .08 blood or breath alcohol concentration, but police remind that you can be stopped and cited regardless of your blood alcohol concentration.
The Texas Department of Public safety also announced that more DPS Troopers will also be on the highways. Their stepped up enforcement effort will start tomorrow, Tuesday, and run through December 26th.
The best advise? Police urge you to plan ahead if you are going to be drinking. Designate a driver, call a cab or someone you trust to pick up up.
