Colleges in East Texas and across the country have initiated their spring breaks, and local officials are urging residents to stay patient and vigilant, expecting heightened traffic due to students traveling home. Tyler Police Department is part of the institutions making preparations, deploying additional patrols up until 18th March, with a focus on potential DWI offenses.
The Police Public Information Officer of Tyler, Andy Erbaugh, warns the public that increased patrols are on the lookout for DWIs. He adds that the public should be aware of alternative choices if they are out and about.
Funding for increased police presence comes from a STEP grant from the Texas Department of Transportation. This season is particularly notorious for DWI-related incidents, with over 800 such crashes occurring statewide during the previous spring break, based on TxDOT data.
TxDOT’s Tyler District Public Information Officer, Jeff Williford, termed these figures as “alarming”. He clarified that these statistics were shared not to frighten or shame but to educate on the correct actions to take.
In 2023, 63 fatalities were reported in the Tyler District due to DWI-related incidents. This area spans Smith, Gregg, Wood, Van Zandt, Henderson, Anderson, Cherokee, and Rusk Counties.
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