Law Enforcement Officials Warn Against Making Excuses for DWI

We’ve all heard the excuses – “I’m OK to drive,” “I’m only going a few blocks” or “I’ll take the back roads home” – but just like “the dog ate my homework” didn’t work in elementary school, the excuses for drunk driving don’t work now. That’s why the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) latest campaign to reduce drunk driving highlights common excuses offenders give for driving under the influence. 

At a Tuesday (Aug. 16) press event at the El Paso County Jail Annex to launch the annual Drink, Drive, Go To Jail campaign and enforcement period, TxDOT will enlist a troupe of local actors who will don prison jumpsuits and unveil common excuses people give for driving drunk. 

TxDOT is joining forces with DPS, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and law enforcement agencies statewide to crack down on drunk driving as the summer winds down. From Aug. 19 through Labor Day (Sept. 5), law enforcement officers around the state will be working overtime to get drunk drivers off the road. 

It’s a problem that continues to haunt the state. In 2010, there were 25,032 alcohol-related crashes in Texas that resulted in 1,057 deaths and 16,877 injuries. In 2010, 24 percent of people killed in alcohol-related crashes in Texas were between the ages of 20 and 25. However, this age segment only represents 9 percent of the overall state population.

The purpose of the campaign is to remind drivers of the consequences of getting behind the wheel after they’ve been drinking and suggest safe alternatives. Instead of driving home, they can call a cab, ask a friend or a family member for a ride, hand their keys to a designated driver or simply stay put until they sober up.  

For those who choose to drink and drive, law enforcement officials statewide will be on out in force to arrest them. No excuses.

West Nile Virus Confirmed in El Paso Again This Year

Department continues to urge residents to take preventive action

El Paso, Texas – The City of El Paso Department of Public Health has confirmed the first three human cases of West Nile Virus in the El Paso area for 2011.

The most recent case involves a 64-year-old woman who resides within the 79935 zip code. She is currently receiving treatment for the disease. The second confirmed case is that of a 65-year-old man who lives in the 79927 zip code. The first case was identified in a patient who did not show symptoms of West Nile virus, but was rather diagnosed after donating blood. Because the source of the virus in the first case is undetermined, no details regarding that patient will be released.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), West Nile virus is spread by infected mosquitoes, and can cause serious, life-altering and even fatal disease. The most serious manifestation of WNV infection is fatal encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in humans and horses, as well as mortality in certain domestic and wild birds.

“We continue to get the word out about confirmed cases of West Nile in our area so that residents don’t forget that the disease still exists and that it can become serious,” said Fernando Gonzalez, Department of Public Health-Lead Epidemiologist. “Taking precautions like using insect repellent and draining standing water outside your home should be as common as putting sunblock on your children and making sure the doors are locked before you go to bed,” he added.

Department officials continue to stress the importance of following recommendations for avoiding mosquito breeding or mosquito bites.  They include:

• Using insect repellents that contain DEET, picardin or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
• Avoid outdoor activities at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• If you are outdoors, wear long-sleeves, pants and socks when weather permits.
• Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes can lay eggs.
• Install or Repair Window and Door Screens.

The chance that any one person is going to become ill from a single mosquito bite remains low. The risk of severe illness and death is highest for people over 50 years old, although people of all ages can become ill.

For more information log on to: http://www.elpasotexas.gov/health/westnile.asp

Any Last Words?

TxDOT_LastWordsEnglish_15.mpeg Watch on Posterous