EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The El Paso City Council is taking some steps to fight back against DWIs.

The council approved an item during its meeting on Tuesday, May 12, directing the city manager and city attorney to spearhead a coordinated, data-driven anti-DWI initiative.

The approved item directs the city manager to prepare and present a comprehensive overview of DWI data in El Paso within 45 days and develop a City-wide anti-DWI strategy with recommendations to return to City Council within 90 days.

The action also amends the City of El Paso’s state legislative agenda to include anti-DWI advocacy priorities.

“Every life lost or forever changed by impaired driving is one too many,” Mayor Renard U. Johnson said. “This action gives us a clear path to better understand the data, strengthen prevention and enforcement efforts, and advocate for policies that help protect families across El Paso.”

The effort follows a meeting convened by Mayor Johnson and District 5 City Rep. Ivan Niño with state and local community leaders, public safety officials, residents, and community advocates, including the Sober Streets Movement and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), to discuss DWI concerns and hear directly from families impacted by impaired driving.

“Impaired driving is preventable, and our community deserves a focused strategy that reflects the real experiences of families, residents, and first responders,” Niño said. “By starting with the data and working with our public safety partners and advocates, we can identify meaningful steps to make our roads safer.”

Niño also participated in a night-shift ride-along with the El Paso Police Department’s DWI Task Force to better understand enforcement operations and the challenges officers face on the front lines.

Available data and recent reporting indicate DWI activity remains a serious concern in El Paso, the City said in its news release.

Impaired driving affects families, neighborhoods, public safety resources, and City infrastructure, underscoring the need for a coordinated, data-informed response, the City said.

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