EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 El Paso police are ramping up DWI enforcement across the city as new data shows alcohol-related crashes continue to take lives even as overall traffic deaths fall.<\/p>\n
Special traffic investigators say fatal crashes involving alcohol remain a serious problem in the Borderland. <\/p>\n
Overall, traffic fatalities in El Paso are down 24% over the past three years, but alcohol-related fatal crashes have continued. <\/p>\n
The number of fatal crashes involving alcohol was 26 in 2020, 24 in 2021, 17 in 2022, 30 in 2023, 21 in 2024, and 19 in 2025. <\/p>\n
Officials stress that even one death is too many.<\/p>\n
In the first two weeks of 2026, police issued more than 1,400 citations, not counting warnings. Over the previous two years, more than 5,000 drivers were arrested for DWI. <\/p>\n
Officials say they are committed to minimizing drinking and driving.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is literally carnage on the street,\u201d Pacillas said. \u201cIt affects everybody\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n
District Attorney James Montoya said preventing impaired driving is a priority.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne life lost to drunk driving is way too many,\u201d Montoya said. \u201cPublic safety has always been a top priority of mine, and preventing drunk driving is a critical part of that work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Montoya\u2019s office referred questions to a news conference held last month where he discussed legislative changes his office is working toward, including the possibility of asking judges to impose interlocks on DWI offenders even when not required by law.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, our office is looking at creative new ways to try to deter this conduct even more, potentially requiring asking judges to impose interlocks on DWI offenders, even when it\u2019s not statutorily required,\u201d Montoya said.<\/p>\n
RECOMMENDED: El Paso leaders report 6% rise in DWI arrests, urges community to prevent drunk driving<\/a><\/p>\n City leaders say enforcement, education, and accountability are all part of the strategy. <\/p>\n El Paso police declined an interview but confirmed DWI task forces will continue through 2026. The El Paso County Sheriff\u2019s Office did not respond to interview requests.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, some local bar owners say prevention efforts should also include businesses that serve alcohol. <\/p>\n At Gringo Theory, a bar representative said staff are instructed to call law enforcement if a situation escalates.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I tell my staff, like hey guys like, you know if they don\u2019t calm down or they\u2019re not understanding, then it\u2019s a phone call to law enforcement so they can get out here immediately before it goes to something bigger,\u201d the representative said.<\/p>\n The bar also described training aimed at helping employees recognize intoxication levels.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we do here for a new bartender we hire, we have a training packet,\u201d the representative said. \u201cSo, we bring in the menus, and then it breaks down the drinks, the body weight, and then it gives you kind of like a scale here, men and women.\u201d<\/p>\n The bar also pointed to efforts to encourage rideshare use, including a designated pickup area in its parking lot.<\/p>\n \u201cSo this is always empty,\u201d the representative said. \u201cSo that way this is a designated area in our parking lot for Uber. And the bikes, too, because we want to care for the bikes.\u201d<\/p>\n A bar owner identified as Shannon said accountability should go beyond individual arrests and said he hopes a collaboration could be created between law enforcement and local businesses.<\/p>\n \u201cI know I could do my part by kind of stopping it before I let it go, and the arrests and all that. I know if also the mayor and PD and stuff can start looking at the source of the license holder, I think that could be a huge change,\u201d Shannon said.<\/p>\n City leaders say new strategies, including possible legislative changes, are being explored to further reduce drunk driving in El Paso.<\/p>\n RECOMMENDED: Woman arrested on intoxication manslaughter charge in deadly Lower Valley crash<\/a><\/p>\n