Holiday Revelers Warned to Hand Over Keys; TxDOT Launches Annual Holiday 'Don't Drink and Drive' Campaign.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Festive lights decorating homes and businesses across Texas are a bright sign that the holiday season is in full swing.

But state and local law enforcement agencies warn that there are some lights that Texas residents will not want to see this month: the flashing red and blue lights that signal a traffic enforcement stop.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announced Dec. 8 that officers will be stepping up enforcement of the state's driving while intoxicated laws through January 2. TxDOT has made grants totaling $661,955 to 61 Texas cities to help defray expenses to crack down on impaired drivers.

"Officers will be out in force, so we want to remind people to let someone else drive if they've been drinking," said Carlos Lopez, TxDOT's traffic operations director. "Designate a sober driver, call a taxi or just stay put until you can drive safely. We want everyone to have a happy and safe holiday season. That's why extra officers will be on the streets to arrest drunk drivers this month."

Safety advocates credit stepped-up enforcement of the state's DWI laws and ongoing advertising about the penalties for drunk driving with the recent decline in impaired driving fatalities. Federal officials reported recently that 130 fewer people died in Texas last year in alcohol-related crashes than in 2003.

Along with the Texas Department of Public Safety and local police departments and sheriff's offices statewide, the Texas Restaurant Association, the Texas Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, the Texas Municipal Police Association and Valero Corporation are also participating in the holiday DWI-prevention campaign.

Penalties for a first-time DWI offense include driver's license suspension for up to one year, a fine of up to $2,000 and up to six months in jail.