East Texas

Texas Highway Patrol is increasing patrols over the July 4 weekend. From midnight Friday through midnight Sunday, all available troopers will patrol highways, the agency announced.

“If the thought of killing or injuring others on the road while you’re driving drunk is not enough to make you drive sober, just remember that our troopers will be looking to arrest you,” said Col. Thomas Davis Jr., director of the DPS.

Last year during the extended holiday weekend (July 3-8), troopers made 689 driving while intoxicated arrests and issued 10,445 speeding citations. They issued 2,167 tickets for safety belt violations and 577 for child safety seat and booster seat violations.