DPS teams with state agencies to enforce Move Over law
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Department of Public Safety is joining multiple state law enforcement agencies in a 'joint one-day enhanced enforcement operation' happening Wednesday.
Texas DPS joined Arkansas State Police, Louisiana State Police, New Mexico State Police and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol in the collaborative effort. The operation will focus 'on drivers violating their respective state's Move Over, Slow Down laws,' DPS said in a news release.
The operation will happen from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, according to DPS.
According to the agency, Texas DPS has reported 142 crashes involving 'stationary DPS patrol vehicles,' which have resulted in 46 trooper injuries and two trooper deaths.
'DPS is proud to join with our neighbors to raise awareness of the importance of Move Over, Slow Down laws in our respective states,' said Texas DPS Colonel Freeman F. Martin. 'Too many law enforcement officers and first responders have lost their lives simply doing their jobs along the side of the road. This multi-state operation is about saving lives—ours and yours. If you see flashing lights, do what's right: move over or slow down.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Southbound I-17 closed in Phoenix after wrong-way crash near Seventh Avenue
Southbound Interstate 17 was closed in Phoenix on the morning of June 4, due to a wrong-way collision near Seventh Avenue, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. There was no estimated time for the closure to reopen, DPS said. Traffic was being taken off at Durango Street, the Arizona Department of Transportation said. The injuries of the those in the two vehicles involved were unknown, and it was unclear if impairment was a factor, DPS said. Motorists can check the AZ511 app or call 511 to see real-time highway conditions. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Wrong-way crash closes southbound I-17 near Seventh Avenue in Phoenix
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Suspect in deadly 2023 hit-and-run crash charged with manslaughter, affidavit says
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A man who was accused of killing an Austin father and daughter in a 2023 hit-and-run in east Austin has been charged with manslaughter, a second-degree felony, according to a Travis County arrest warrant affidavit. On June 23, 2023, the driver of a 2010 red Chevrolet was involved in a two-vehicle crash in the 5500 block of Delta Post Drive. Deputies identified the suspect as Luis Rodolfo Mata Limon, said the affidavit. KXAN will reach out to Luis' attorney once it is provided. We will update this if a statement is received. According to the affidavit, Limon 'failed to give half of the roadway and struck a black ATV.' The ATV was operated by Jonathan Gomez-Guajardo, who was with his daughter Azeneth Gomez-Rodriguez. Sadly, both were killed as a result of the crash. A video from a parked Tesla nearby captured the crash and was obtained by Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers, according to the affidavit. The video showed the pickup truck traveling southwest on Delta Post Drive and the ATV traveling northeast also on Delta Post Drive. Both vehicles eventually collided head-on. The pickup truck dragged the ATV across the roadway, onto the sidewalk area and into the grass, the affidavit detailed. The truck continued traveling southwest and eventually made a complete stop. That was when Limon left the scene on foot. Additionally, Travis County deputies had spoken with witnesses in the area and one resident even captured a Hispanic man running away from the scene of the crash. Through investigation, an iPhone and cans of alcohol were left inside the truck. The affidavit stated that only the driver's side airbag was deployed and was later used as DNA evidence. The phone left inside the vehicle also provided evidence for law enforcement. Following the crash investigation, troopers showed up at the residence where the vehicle was registered–which was under his father's name, Salvador Mata Garcia. When DPS arrived at the residence, they were unsuccessful in locating Luis and Salvador. However, on June 24, DPS was able to get in contact with Salvador, the affidavit stated. The affidavit said Salvador 'made a stolen [car] report with Travis County, but could not confirm his whereabouts during the crash time.' Salvador also told troopers that Luis was not answering his calls, nor did he show up to work since the time of the crash. The days following the crash, troopers had no luck in contacting Luis. When they asked Salvador why he hadn't reported his son missing, he told officers that 'his son is a little 'dumb'' and that 'he was not worried for him,' the affidavit stated. On July 17, 2023, a search warrant was issued for the vehicle and a DNA search warrant was issued for both men. The airbag was taken from the vehicle and was submitted to DPS Austin Crime Lab for evidence and DNA collection, the affidavit stated. According to the affidavit, the DNA search warrant was issued to 'possibly identify the driver from the DNA' in the airbag. However, DNA was only collected from Salvador. Further details revealed the night before [the crash], [Luis] was at a party and did not return home and that the truck was lent to Luis, the affidavit stated. Officials believe Luis was 'possibly drinking and driving' when the crash happened and ran away from the scene to avoid an arrest because he didn't have a valid driver's license at the time, the affidavit detailed. It was confirmed in the affidavit that Luis had open alcohol containers inside the truck. Additionally, deputies said Luis did not attempt to call 911, nor did he attempt to return to the scene of the crash to render aid to the victims. KXAN previously covered in September 2023, the family of Gomez-Guajardo and Azeneth had sued two men whom they believed were responsible for the east Austin fatal crash. They hoped this would've put pressure on the men to come forward at the time. As of Monday, there is still no information on his whereabouts, the affidavit said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
License plate reader vote postponed amid community, council concerns
AUSTIN (KXAN) — According to an email sent to Austin city council members and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, City Manager TC Broadnax will postpone a vote on whether or not Austin police can continue to use license plate readers. The city manager wrote: 'While I appreciate the Austin Police Department's thorough presentation at today's work session regarding the Automated License Plate Reader technology and have confidence that APD can continue to use this tool in a responsible way focused on keeping Austinites safe, I am also sensitive to community concerns and outstanding questions from members of the City Council. Given concerns expressed today, I have decided to withdraw this item from the agenda at this time to provide more opportunities to address council members' questions and do our due diligence to alleviate concerns prior to bringing this item back to City Council for consideration.' It's unclear when license plate reader technology may come back to the city council for a vote. KXAN has reached out to APD for a response. During Tuesday's work session, APD explained to the dais why it finds the technology beneficial. 'This police department is 300 officers short. Currently, we do not have enough officers to [perform] the job that we would prefer to do without the use of technology to supplement [our] work,' said Assistant Austin Police Chief Sheldon Askew. 'Today we heard powerful testimony from residents, nonprofit leaders, privacy experts, and many others,' said Council Member Mike Siegel in a release. 'We are in an unprecedented time of authoritarian rule at the state and federal levels, and we should not be using City of Austin resources to fund a mass surveillance tool that can be used by private companies, immigration authorities, and other outside entities. I look forward to working with my colleagues on Council to support public safety strategies do not create such a risk of injury to our diverse communities.' You can read more about the contents of that work session and the discussion had here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
