Enhanced DWI enforcement on Texas roads ahead of July 4

HOUSTON (KIAH) — Police agencies across Texas are stepping-up their efforts to catch drunk drivers as Independence Day nears with all of its celebrations that often include alcohol.

State troopers, sheriff’s deputies, local police officers, and other lawmen began their enhanced DWI enforcement on Friday, and it will remain in place until July 7.

At the same time, the Texas Department of Transportation is rolling out its Drive Sober, No Regrets campaign ahead of July and August, the two months that TxDOT says are the deadliest when it comes to drunk driving.

The awareness campaign includes testimonials from the families of victims of drunk driving crashes including Shenica Trammell from San Antonio.

A drunk driver hit her 20 year old son Charles Trammell III as he changed a tire on a friend’s car in the Dallas area in August of 2022.

The impact sent the Texas Wesleyan University football player flying 60 feet off of an overpass to his death.

“He didn’t get a chance to live out his dreams of becoming a football coach and working in sports medicine,” Trammell said. “He didn’t have a chance to have kids or even get married all because someone made a thoughtless choice to drink and drive.”

TxDOT is featuring her family’s story in its Faces of Drunk Driving exhibit that’s part of the Drive Sober, No Regrets campaign.

The agency says the exhibit is, “traveling across Texas to showcase powerful first-person testimonial videos by survivors, offenders and those who’ve suffered the loss of a loved one due to a drunk driver.”

The exhibit has made three stops so far and three more are planned in Midland, Arlington, and McAllen.

The testimonials are also available online .

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