SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Police Department is beefing up patrols for New Year’s Eve to target drunken drivers.
“Our DWI unit is going to be out there and we’re going to have additional officers that are going to be assigned specifically looking for drunk drivers,” SAPD spokesman Sgt. Jesse Salame said. “If somebody is willing to take that chance, we’re going to be out there.”
Salame urged motorists to select a designated driver or use other alternate forms of transportation.
“Taxi companies, ridesharing companies, park and ride are among the options,” Salame said. “There’s simply no reason to drive drunk.”
As of two months ago, drunken drivers had been blamed for 10 deaths in Bexar County in 2015. SAPD has made nearly 5,000 drunken driving arrests this year.
The cost alone, from court costs to attorney’s fees, can be staggering for someone convicted of DWI.
“From a financial standpoint, from a life standpoint, it’s a dumb thing to do,” Salame said.