AUSTIN, Texas — A night out on the town in Downtown Austin will feature a larger police presence this month.
The Austin Police Department (APD) recently announced its “intensifying efforts” to address people who may be driving through downtown while impaired.
Part of their new efforts will include Drug Recognition Expert Officers being deployed on Friday and Saturday nights to help keep the streets safe. Officers will be expected to target anyone who appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
“Every impaired driver that officers catch is one less potential danger on the road,” police said in a statement about the initiative. “Driving under the influence is not only illegal, but reckless and unacceptable.”
Police said the initiative will run every weekend in April, but it’s unclear if it will be extended beyond that. In the meantime, police have encouraged the public to make responsible decisions and use rideshare services or designated drivers.
For those who park in paid spaces and then get a parking ticket, Austin offers a Parking Ticket Waiver Program to get those tickets dismissed as long as you submit proof that you took a rideshare service or public transit.
Downtown has been a priority for Austin police since January, when changes were announced to reopen Sixth Street to traffic. The changes were announced following the attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, which eventually led to more safety measures.