TYLER, Texas — The holiday season always brings a lot of joy and happiness, but it can also bring tragedy on the roadways.
Tyler law enforcement and a law firm are stepping up to keep locals safe on the streets this holiday season.
The Tyler Police Department will increase patrols throughout the city beginning Saturday, Dec. 16 to Tuesday, Jan. 2.
Tyler Police Department Sergeant J.H. Burge said the roadways are the busiest during this time of the year.
"It's the week of Christmas, everybody (is) getting their shopping done, kids are out of school, traffic gets really congested on Broadway, the Loop, (and) Paluxy," Burge said. "Anywhere you can think of, there's gonna be a lot more traffic on the road."
TPD will be enforcing their Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) to keep everyone safe on the roads.
"The state gives us extra money to put more guys on the street during those high times. We run the campaign through the New Years," Burge said.
Burge said officers will keep an eye out for intoxicated drivers.
Roberts and Roberts Law Firm is providing East Texans with a safe ride home called The Ride's On Us. This annual campaign offers free rides home as a safe alternative to anybody who has been drinking, and it runs throughout 14 East Texas counties.
"We started doing this because we see what happens when someone is driving intoxicated. And it does cause harm and damage to lives and families in East Texas. And we'd much rather people get home safe than have to come to our office and talk," said Justin Roberts, managing lawyer at Roberts and Roberts Law Firm.
The campaign started 20 years ago and it has expanded it's services to other counties with the help of other car services.
"We went from two cities over the last several years to 14 counties this year for the first time. First, we worked with Tyler Car Service for decades. Yellow Checker Cab of Longview has been handling the Longview area. And this year, Go Bus has come along and partnered as well and so they've expanded the reach to 14 counties," Roberts said.
Roberts said the campign receives a number of calls each year, particularly around the New Years.
"Our hope is that this has a longer impact of helping people just get in the habit of reaching out for help when they need it," Roberts said.
To use the Ride's On Us service, call 903 333- Ride (7433).