State troopers to focus patrols on high-risk areas

Local News

Guest Book

December 26, 2012

State troopers to focus patrols on high-risk areas

Special to the Register The Daily Register Wed Dec 26, 2012, 10:01 AM CST

Cooke County — The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will increase DWI patrols from now until Jan. 1 including the New Year holiday. DPS troopers will focus DWI patrols in high-risk locations at times when alcohol-related crashes are most frequent. The enhanced patrols that target intoxicated drivers are funded through a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation.

“Drinking and driving are always a concern during holidays, and there is no doubt that increased enforcement by DPS and other law enforcement will help save lives,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “But the public must also do their part to help make sure all travelers on our roads have a safe and happy holiday season. Plan ahead. Designate a non-drinking driver or find alternative transportation if you plan to drink, and never get in a car with an intoxicated driver.”

During the Christmas/New Year holiday enforcement effort last year, DPS troopers made more than 1,100 DWI arrests, and approximately 350 were the direct result of the increased patrols. DPS enforcement also resulted in more than 15,000 speeding citations, 2,000 seat belt/child safety seat citations and 18,000 other citations. In addition, troopers made 1,020 fugitive arrests and 623 felony arrests during routine patrol operations.

DPS offers the following additional tips for safe travel during the holidays:

• Slow down – especially in bad weather, construction areas, heavy traffic and unfamiliar areas.

• Eliminate distractions, and don't text while driving.

• Buckle up everyone in the vehicle – it's the law.

• Don't drive fatigued, and allow plenty of time to reach your destination.

• Drive defensively, as holiday travel may present additional challenges.

• Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained before your trip begins.

• Slow down or move over for tow trucks and police, fire and EMS vehicles stopped on the side of the road with emergency lights activated – it's the law.

Text Only

Local News

VFW plans Memorial Day ceremony
This year’s Memorial Day ceremony is set to combine rigorous tribute and storytelling with a notable twist.

May 18, 2013 1 Photo
Valley View officials sworn in
Valley View city officials were sworn in during a recent city council meeting.

May 17, 2013 3 Photos
The Big One: Preparing for mid-America earthquake
Part 5 of a five-part series

It’s a bleak scenario. A massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault kills or injures 60,000 people in Tennessee. A quarter of a million people are homeless. The Memphis airport – the country’s biggest air terminal for packages – goes off-line. Major oil and gas pipelines across Tennessee rupture, causing shortages in the Northeast. In Missouri, another 15,000 people are hurt or dead. Cities and towns throughout the central U.S. lose power and water for months. Losses stack up to hundreds of billions of dollars.

May 18, 2013 3 Photos
National Transportation Safety Board considers lowering blood alcohol levels for drivers
Members of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) have announced new recommendations in their continued quest to end drunk driving.
During the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, alcohol is a common theme in many celebratory activities throughout the nation and state, and, therefore, many Texans unnecessarily die in vehicular accidents involving alcohol-impaired drivers.
This past week, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials announced several new recommendations relating to drunk driving, including lowering the national blood alcohol content (BAC) standard from .08 to .05.

May 18, 2013
Fire support and rehab team donates to Callisburg VFD
Cooke County Fire Support and Rehab Team recently purchased some items for Callisburg Volunteer Fire Department.

May 18, 2013 1 Photo
Gainesville Rotary club unfurls flag program
Members of the Gainesville Rotary Club are currently preparing the organization’s annual flag program which delivers and displays large American flags throughout the community and surrounding area.

May 17, 2013 1 Photo
Local damage minimal after stormy night
Wednesday storms brought negligible issues to Cooke County, with more dire effects experienced to the south.

May 17, 2013
Guest's memoir a hit at book signing
A magical summer in Gainesville in 1935 is recalled in Betty Bradley Junkin Guest’s book “Once Upon a Falling Star.”

May 17, 2013 1 Photo
Muenster bankers meet with delegation
More than 100 members of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT), along with local Muenster bankers, met in Washington D.C. with the Texas Congressional delegation, various regulatory agencies and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in April to discuss pressing legislative issues with national and statewide impact.

May 17, 2013 1 Photo
United Way begins 'Caring' project
The gauntlet has been thrown to area groups, churches and local business in a friendly competition to be held May 30 to assist the Cooke County United Way (CCUW) as part of the organization’s second “Community Caring” event in 2013.

May 16, 2013 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Gainesville City Council has proposed an ordinance that would place restrictions on smoking in certain public areas in the city. How do you feel the council should handle the issue?

Local News

Search Results

Guest Book

State troopers to focus patrols on high-risk areas

Gainesville City Council has proposed an ordinance that would place restrictions on smoking in certain public areas in the city. How do you feel the council should handle the issue?

Site Map

Contact Us