EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso’s nightlife draws crowds downtown for a night out, but new data shows the area is also among the city’s biggest hotspots for drunk driving crashes, prompting city leaders to take a closer look at where and how often alcohol-related crashes are happening.
El Paso City Council is set to review new DWI data from the El Paso Police Department, including year-to-year totals of alcohol-related crashes.
The data shows 575 alcohol-related crashes in 2023, 531 in 2024 and 558 in 2025. So far this year, the number stands at 225.
People out enjoying El Paso’s nightlife said the takeaway is straightforward: don’t drink and drive.
“DUIs can lead to bigger things. Just keep it at a minimum,” one person said.
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Another urged people to plan ahead: “So, you know, if you’re thinking about driving under the influence, think again. Call a buddy.”
A bartender also encouraged people to leave their vehicles behind if needed. “I hope they think smarter at the end of the night. It’s okay to leave the car here, come get it the next morning,” the bartender said.
The data also maps where alcohol-related crashes are happening most often, highlighting hotspots across the city.
Those include downtown near Stanton and I-10, Five Points in Central El Paso, I-10 between Yarbrough and Lee Trevino, and the Zaragoza corridor in East El Paso.
El Paso DWI hotspot map. (Credit: KFOX14/CBS4)
“Definitely be safe, designate a driver. We always do. Uber, you know, get a taxi, whatever,” another person said.
The data also shows enforcement is up.
El Paso police DWI arrests increased from 584 in 2023 to 624 in 2024, before dropping to 560 last year. As of April this year, there have been 805 DWI arrests.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has also already made 356 DWI arrests this year, after making 617 all of last year and 405 in 2024.
“I think law enforcement, they’re doing the best that they can with the limited personnel that they have,” one person said.
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Another person called impaired driving a major local concern, saying, “DUI is the biggest issue here in El Paso, but I know that with the law enforcement that we have on the streets today, they’re going to represent in full force.”
The full presentation is expected to be given to City Council Tuesday during its regular meeting.
You can review the data provided by the El Paso Police Department below:
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