Be Safe this New Year's Weekend – Don’t Drink and Drive!

The Southlake Department of Public Safety is urging everyone to be safe this New Year’s Weekend.  We are encouraging everyone to not drink and drive or if you plan to have alcohol please plan ahead accordingly with a designated driver or arrange for a taxi cab.

Individuals arrested for DWI, or driving while intoxicated, face serious consequences including jail time and fines but more importantly, they risk taking a life or causing serious harm to themselves and others. The simple facts are that someone is hurt or killed in a crash involving alcohol almost every 20 minutes.

In Texas, a person is legally intoxicated and may be arrested and charged with DWI with a .08 BAC (blood or breath alcohol concentration). However, a person can also be intoxicated if impaired due to alcohol or drugs regardless of BAC. Whether you’re the driver or the passenger, you can be fined up to $500 for having an open alcohol container in a vehicle. The penalties increase if you are arrested for DWI with a child passenger.  You can also face charges for child endangerment which is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and up to two years in a state prison.

The fines and punishment increases dramatically following a first offense. Please drive safely and don’t risk landing in jail with a DWI conviction on your record.

•             Don’t drink and drive.

•             Plan ahead and designate a driver.

•             Call a taxi cab.

•             Spend the night where you are, if possible.

Southlake Police Chief Stephen Mylett says, “The consequences of a DWI can affect your job and your personal life and a DWI conviction can follow you for a lifetime. More importantly, when you choose to drink and drive, you risk your life and the lives of others on the roadway. Don’t let one bad decision change your life forever.”

Southlake Police Officers will step up enforcement efforts continuing to keep the City streets and highways safe this New Year’s weekend.  For more information http://www.txdot.gov/safety/tips/intoxication.htm