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Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Plano police stepping up DWI enforcement Memorial Day weekend
They will also enforce "no refusal weekend," which means that medical personnel will be available to draw blood if drivers refuse a breathalyzer.
PLANO — In an effort to prevent crash-related highway incidents and injuries during the upcoming Memorial Day Holiday, the Plano Police Department will be increasing its presence in DWI Traffic enforcement. The increased DWI enforcement initiative will run through Memorial Day, May 31, 2010. In addition to extra police personnel, the Plano Police Department will also be implementing a “No Refusal Weekend” beginning Friday night and ending Sunday night. Medical personnel will be available in the event a blood sample needs to be taken pursuant to this extra enforcement initiative.
This special detail of additional DWI enforcement officers will complement the high level of patrol already on the street during this time. The additional officers, along with a full complement of highway safety strategies, will hopefully prevent many of the injuries and motor vehicle crashes that occur as a result of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Funding for the special enforcement initiative is coming from the Texas Department of Transportation DWI grant as well as funds received from the Red Light Camera Traffic Safety fund.
The Plano Police Department is also asking each person to consider the amount of alcoholic beverages they intake as they celebrate this weekend, prior to operating any motor vehicle. The best way to reduce alcohol related crashes is for persons to be aware of their alcohol intake and to be considerate of other driver’s this weekend and not drive after drinking. It is also recommended to plan ahead and have a designated driver when alcoholic beverages are being consumed in any amount. With proper planning, crash-related incidents and injuries can be dramatically reduced, not just by law enforcement, but also by drinking responsibly.
Source: Plano Police Department
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"humbleness"??????
Um, Mr. Means (reporter), your fourth-grade English teacher is going to smack yo
stefanie, anonymous:
Hope everyone has a safe holiday, that's the most important. There are some tools you can use when driving to help.
I don't know if you have heard about Trapster. It’s a free mobile phone application that alerts drivers to red light cameras, speed cameras, live police, road hazards, etc. It's honestly helpful with not only preventing tickets but also getting drivers to slow down and hopefully make them more aware of upcoming ticketing cameras. All in all safer drivers are what we are all striving for.
Stefanie
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Pavel Lishin, verified:
Yeah, the thing I want most is for the drunks this weekend to also be checking their phones to see where the speed-traps are.
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Jason Rice, verified:
But they'll be buckled up!!
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Sarah Blaskovich, staff:
I just tried Trapster out, and I think it's pretty cool. One note: If you don't turn off the sound, the phone "talks" to you if you're near a red light camera -- I'm assuming so you don't have to pick up your phone and look at it while driving, like Pavel suggested. It made for an embarrassing moment at the office when my phone alerted us to a "red light camera! red light camera!" a few minutes ago. Apparently, there's one right by our offices.
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Pavel Lishin, verified:
Huh, that's pretty awesome, actually.
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Rawlins, anonymous:
I liked Pavel's first comment. That said, I have seen personally people killed by people running red lights (actually witnessed the impact @Fair Oaks & Abrams, mother & daughter killed) and by drunks (let me count the places). So apps to make running a red light or make driving in an alcoholic haze more probable don't warm my heart.
Many people are so used to cruising through a light that 'just barely turned red' and / or drinking so much & driving that they think nothing of it as a new 'normal'. And drinking gets graded on the curve system: as long as they know SOMEone who drinks more than they, it's all good.
No tea toddler here. I like my cocktails & beer so don't even bother with the to-each-his-own spin. Where I come from, a reality check is always better to cash than a new app is to download that might allow someone to slide through a red light & evade a cop.
Case in point: Only extremely rarely did anyone used to drive the wrong way on the toll road & highways. Maybe once a decade an incident. Today, it is common as sale tags at WalMart. Weekly, monthly. Last year alone 11 people were killed locally & god knows how many ruined but still alive---all from wrong way driving collisions. I have seen people driving the wrong way on Saturday night on the North Dallas Tollway TWICE that I recall....before killing two people. How many happened when I was not around? HWY 121 has had many wrong way deaths. Hwy 30. 183 near Euless killed 5 people a while back. All soused. Completely smashed. Drunker than hell.
FYI: DUIs now cost about $10,000.00 a pop. And the second time you can lose your license, ultimately forever. And oh yes, jail time w/or without vehicular manslaughter extra point bonus rounds. Losing your buzz? I wish. Happy Memorial Day. May you live to tell about it.
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oodarkroom, anonymous:
I've noticed the traffic police have been very active at night for at least a year nowPlano, and every city I know of, is short revenues so they are resorting to collecting the "stupid tax". Those that drink and drive will step up to the plate and pay for some of our budget shortfalls. .
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Clay213, anonymous:
'Case in point: Only extremely rarely did anyone used to drive the wrong way on the toll road & highways. Maybe once a decade an incident. Today, it is common as sale tags at WalMart.'
LOLWUT?
No. It really isn't.
Anyway. I can't count the number of drunk Mexicans I have come across passed out in their donkey carts(pick up trucks) at stop lights. I always promptly call the police.
I think I am going to upgrade to removing the air from their tires.
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Jason Rice, verified:
Deathwish Clay, at it again.
Man, put me in your will and quick.
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Clay213, anonymous:
Death wish?
They are unconscious at stop lights.
Who's going to kill me?
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What do you think?