Harris County declares open season on motorists

Harris County has declared war on area motorists as it launches Operation Shared Responsibility this weekend. The program, spearheaded by the Harris County Sheriff's Office, will focus on making DWI and other alcohol-related arrests in specially targeted areas in the county. This weekend the focus will be on the northwest side as HCSO deputies will team up with DPS troopers, constables, the Harris County District Attorney and local police departments to attack the civil liberties of motorists caught in their web.

According to Sheriff Adrian Garcia, a dedicated dispatch line will be set up for alcohol-related issues and off-duty officers will be asked to pick up the slack while on-duty personnel are concentrated on alcohol-related traffic stops.

"As much as we endorse the heightened enforcement, we'd like to make it clear that the effort alone will not get us where we need to be," said Rick Donley, president of The Beer Alliance, a trade association for beer distributors. "Education is the key to stemming the tide."

So, if you're out and about this weekend, be careful, because the best way to avoid picking up a DWI is not to drink and drive.