(Seguin) — The Seguin Police Department says to have a plan if you plan on going out to celebrate the New Year’s holiday.
Public Engagement Officer Stephanie Larrimore says you should make a plan before you head out on New Year’s Eve.
“As you’re celebrating the new year, do so safely. We encourage people not to drink and drive. I mean, I understand that’s one of the things people tend to do is drink,” said Larrimore.
“We just like for people to be cautious about drinking and driving, whether it’s planning ahead and getting yourself a designated driver, using a rideshare, or even just staying at somebody’s house, depending on where you’re at. With New Year’s, it’s midnight, you’re celebrating, there’s fireworks, and by the time you notice, it’s one or two o’clock in the morning before you decide to even leave some of these places. And we just encourage people to take precautions.”
Law enforcement agencies will be beefing up their patrols in an attempt to keep people safe. Larrimore says it’s not just drunk driving that you need to be worried about if you’re out late. She says road construction and fireworks usage will also be things to consider.
“Seguin has had quite a few accidents over the last couple of months, and they have increased. We will have additional officers on the streets, not only to address the fireworks issue, but also accidents and drunk driving. I just want people to also understand that with fireworks comes smoke. So just try to be very cautious, especially on those county roads. There’s a lot of heavy smoke in the area, and that will reduce your visibility. I remember when I was working nights, heading to and from different parts of town, there were certain areas that I could see perfectly fine. Then when I got to areas of town where people had been popping fireworks, it was very hard to see the roadway,” said Larrimore.
Experts say drunk driving crashes are completely preventable, and they can produce problems, including financial issues, that last for years. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, a DWI can cost up to $17,000 in fines and fees and lead to jail time, loss of a driver’s license, difficulty finding or keeping a job, loss of trust from loved ones, and a lifetime of regret.