TxDOT 'no refusal' patrols for holiday

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Texas Department of Transportation urges all motorists to put safety first this Labor Day holiday. Law enforcement statewide will work overtime during the long holiday weekend to curb drinking and driving.

For the first time, TxDOT is asking people to pledge to choose a safe ride home by texting CHOOSE to 67664. Texans who make the pledge are entered to win a donated Honda Ruckus scooter and helmet.

The crackdown on drunk drivers is part of TxDOT's "Drink. Drive. Go to Jail." campaign.

The department will have officers throughout the area looking for drunk drivers as well as people boating while intoxicated.

Drivers pulled over cannot refuse an alcohol test from an officer during the "no refusal" period in place through Wednesday.

As a somber reminder to drivers that driving deserves their full attention, TxDOT is displaying the year-to-date number of traffic fatalities in Texas on more than 700 message signs throughout the state. The numbers are displayed one week of the month, typically the third week of each month.