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APD Wants Everyone To Make It Home For The Holidays


The holidays are a time to celebrate, but the Austin Police Department is warning you not to celebrate with too much alcohol and then get behind the wheel.

On Thursday, APD announced another part of their Home for the Holidays Initiative.

During the entire month of December drivers stopped by officers for any infraction will receive a flyer reminding them not to drink and drive.

The campaign is dedicated to the memory of teen siblings Mayra Vega and Emmanuel Hernandez, students at Travis High School, who lost their life to an underage, intoxicated driver.

"If you're going to go out and you're going to drink, make a plan, designate a driver, call a cab, call a friend, make plans to spend the night where you’re going to be having your party at," says Lt. Derek Galloway with APD.

Police will also enforce a “no refusal initiative” at the end of the month. "No-refusal" means that DWI suspects that refuse to voluntarily give a breath or blood specimen will have blood drawn for testing anyway. And on New Year’s Eve weekend, APD will have over 50 officers on the streets looking specifically for drunk drivers.