Holiday DWI arrests top 1,800

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Texas Department of Public Safety troopers made more than 1,800 driving-while-intoxicated arrests during a special enforcement period recently, which included the Labor Day holiday, according to statistics released Tuesday.

The targeted DWI enforcement took place from Aus. 19 through Sept. 5 and included additional patrol hours funded by a Texas Department of Transportation grant.

“Thanks to the efforts of DPS troopers and other law enforcement, dangerous drivers were taken off the roads, making it safe for other travelers in Texas during Labor Day holiday,” said DPS director Steven McCraw.

DPS Highway Patrol troopers made 1,859 DWI arrests during the Labor Day enforcement effort, and 524 of those arrests were a direct result of the increased patrols.

The TxDOT grant allowed increased patrols in high-risk locations during the times when alcohol-related crashes are most frequent.

This DPS enforcement effort also resulted in almost 25,000 speeding citations, more than 3,800 seat belt/child safety seat citations, 1,190 fugitive arrests and 877 felony arrests.