AMARILLO, TEXAS -- They killed more than 1,000 people last year in Texas alone: alcohol related crashes.
That's a number many law enforcement and public safety agencies are not okay with. So, Friday marks the beginning of TxDOT's statewide Drink, Drive, Go To Jail campaign.
"You do not have to be the legal .08 to be driving under the influence of alcohol. We're not going to listen to people's excuses and if someone is intoxicated, or we feel is intoxicated, they will be arrested", said Corporal Jerry Neufeld with the Amarillo Police Department.
Additional officers and troopers will be working overtime and cracking down on drunk drivers all the way through Labor Day.
"There is an influx of more drinking and driving that occurs throughout the state and like I said before that's the reason that we really concentrate on this weekend", added trooper Gabriel Medrano, Public Information Officer for Texas Department of Public Safety.
If you think jail time and up to $17,000 in fines are consequence enough for getting behind the wheel after drinking, officials would tell you, it could be much worse.
"You're driving around a 2000-3000 pound weapon that has the capability of injuring or killing someone in just a split second", added Neufeld.
"It really is not worth it. One of the biggest consequences that could happen is if you do hurt somebody, injure somebody or if you do kill somebody out there on the highway after you've been drinking and driving, how are you going to live with yourself after that incident. How are you going to live with yourself?", said Medrano.
So, no matter who you are or how much you've had -- you drink, you drive, you go to jail.
Or as Medrano put it, "No exceptions."
If you are drinking, be safe and don't drive.
Find a designated driver, call a cab or just stay put.
