AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas troopers have increased their patrols to watch for drunken drivers over the holiday period through Jan. 1.
The Texas Department of Public Safety says the additional patrols began Friday and will run through the Christmas and New Year's holiday periods. The enhanced patrols targeting DWI suspects are funded through a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation.
Troopers during the same period last year made more than 1,100 DWI arrests. About one-third of those arrests were credited to increased patrols. DPS also issued more than 15,000 speeding citations during the similar 2011 holiday period.
AAA has projected 7.7 million Texans will be traveling from Saturday through Jan. 1, with most driving.
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