Drivers who imbibe be warned: Texas plans to step up enforcement of drunken-driving laws -- even though the effort won't include sobriety checkpoints like those used in many other states.

On Thursday, the Texas Transportation Commission approved a $96 million safety plan that includes more than $40 million for preventing alcohol- and drug-influenced driving, including $18 million in new enforcement funds.

Alcohol-related fatalities are down statewide from a year ago, but Texas still has the seventh-highest alcohol-related-fatality rate in the U.S. Of 3,087 road fatalities statewide in 2009, 977 were alcohol-related, said Carol Rawson, Texas Department of Transportation traffic operations director.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/07/29/2371902/federal-funds-to-help-texas-beef.html

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/07/29/2371902/federal-funds-to-help-texas-beef.html#ixzz0vAIKpiWk