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| Need to Know Information About Houston and the Region |
Alcoholic beverages may be served in restaurants and bars from 7 a.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday. A late hours permit/license is available in certain areas that can extend the purchase of alcohol until 2 a.m. On Sunday, alcohol can be served with food service or at a “sporting venue” starting at 10 a.m. until midnight. Other permits may start at noon and serve till 2 a.m. with a late hours permit.
Texas also has a zero tolerance law regarding the consumption of alcohol while driving, and driving while intoxicated (DWI) laws are strictly enforced by Texas police officers. The legal limit for intoxication in Texas is .08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC), however, drivers can be stopped and cited for impaired driving due to alcohol or other drugs regardless of BAC. A first offense carries up to a $2,000 fine, 72 hours to 180 days in jail and driver’s license suspension of 90 days to one year. For drivers under 21, a first offense carries a 30-day driver’s license suspension, up to a $500 fine, eight to 12 hours of community service and mandatory attendance in alcohol-awareness classes.
Various counties, including Harris, are partially wet meaning the sale of alcoholic beverages have restrictions. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code (TABC) holds elections several times a year to determine wet/dry areas. Although the laws regulating the alcoholic beverage industry are consistent statewide, the TABC allows local determination of the types of alcoholic beverages which may be sold and how they can be sold by means of local option elections. Elections can be held by counties, cities or individual justice of the peace precincts.
Houston Police Department
The Houston Police Department (HPD) has been keeping Houstonians safe since 1841. HPD is headquartered downtown with community substations and store fronts throughout the city. With more than 5,000 police officers, HPD works daily to keep Houstonians safe. It is not unusual in Houston to see a police officer riding a horse through downtown during the day. HPD maintains a workforce that is trained in a variety of safety strategies, ranging from a dive team to a K-9 unit to a bike patrol.
“Keep Houston SAFE” is a citywide public safety campaign that involves a collaborative partnership between citizens, businesses and the Houston Police Department. The main focus of the campaign is crime prevention and the implementation of proactive enforcement efforts and measures aimed at the reduction of criminal incidents, rather than responding to them after they have occurred.
At the HPD’s Web site www.houstontx.gov/police/keep_houston_safe, users can find out about crime prevention tips, such as
This is just a sample of the topics available.
Community programs include Citizen Patrol, Police Volunteer Initiatives and Crime Prevention through Environmental Design.
The police department also works with the community to reduce crime. Programs such as Crime Stoppers, Neighborhood Watch and the Positive Interaction Program all work to help the city minimize crime. Also on HPD’s main homepage, you’ll find links for current crime statistics, a map of police stations and neighborhood storefronts and alarm permits. (houstontx.gov/police).
Houston Fire Department
The Houston Fire Department was established in 1838 with one station, Protection Company No. 1. It grew to a volunteer fire department status with three stations by 1859. After having provided volunteer firefighting services for 57 years, the City of Houston Fire Department began paying its firefighters in 1895. HFD is the fourth largest fire department in the United States and is responsible for preserving life and property to a population of more than 2 million in an area totaling 617 square miles.
Today's modern fire service is presently undergoing a transitional process. Over the last few years, HFD has evolved into a highly sophisticated public safety rescue system that has saved hundreds of lives and reduced the severity of countless injuries and illnesses. The Houston Fire Department has a vision that guides the organization towards excellence. That goal is achieved through deliberate planning, adaptability and the courage to embrace challenges and opportunities.
For additional information and/or to contact the HFD Public Education Division, call 713-865-7120 or visit the Fire Department Web page at www.houstonfire.com for a list of Fire Department Educational Programs and more.
Harris County Sherrif’s Department
The Harris County Sheriff’s Department operates in the unincorporated portions of the county to ensure public safety. In addition to numerous other duties, the sheriff’s department operates four jails and a detective unit and offers community programs such as Child Passenger Safety Inspections, Vacation Watch and Rape Aggression Defense.
Texas also has a zero tolerance law regarding the consumption of alcohol while driving, and driving while intoxicated (DWI) laws are strictly enforced by Texas police officers. The legal limit for intoxication in Texas is .08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC), however, drivers can be stopped and cited for impaired driving due to alcohol or other drugs regardless of BAC. A first offense carries up to a $2,000 fine, 72 hours to 180 days in jail and driver’s license suspension of 90 days to one year. For drivers under 21, a first offense carries a 30-day driver’s license suspension, up to a $500 fine, eight to 12 hours of community service and mandatory attendance in alcohol-awareness classes.
Various counties, including Harris, are partially wet meaning the sale of alcoholic beverages have restrictions. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code (TABC) holds elections several times a year to determine wet/dry areas. Although the laws regulating the alcoholic beverage industry are consistent statewide, the TABC allows local determination of the types of alcoholic beverages which may be sold and how they can be sold by means of local option elections. Elections can be held by counties, cities or individual justice of the peace precincts.
Houston Police Department
The Houston Police Department (HPD) has been keeping Houstonians safe since 1841. HPD is headquartered downtown with community substations and store fronts throughout the city. With more than 5,000 police officers, HPD works daily to keep Houstonians safe. It is not unusual in Houston to see a police officer riding a horse through downtown during the day. HPD maintains a workforce that is trained in a variety of safety strategies, ranging from a dive team to a K-9 unit to a bike patrol.
“Keep Houston SAFE” is a citywide public safety campaign that involves a collaborative partnership between citizens, businesses and the Houston Police Department. The main focus of the campaign is crime prevention and the implementation of proactive enforcement efforts and measures aimed at the reduction of criminal incidents, rather than responding to them after they have occurred.
At the HPD’s Web site www.houstontx.gov/police/keep_houston_safe, users can find out about crime prevention tips, such as
- A Parent’s Guide to Child Safety
- Back to School Safety
- Burglary Prevention for Your Home
- Burglary Prevention for Your Vehicle
- Child Car Safety Seats
- Cyber Safety
This is just a sample of the topics available.
Community programs include Citizen Patrol, Police Volunteer Initiatives and Crime Prevention through Environmental Design.
The police department also works with the community to reduce crime. Programs such as Crime Stoppers, Neighborhood Watch and the Positive Interaction Program all work to help the city minimize crime. Also on HPD’s main homepage, you’ll find links for current crime statistics, a map of police stations and neighborhood storefronts and alarm permits. (houstontx.gov/police).
Houston Fire Department
The Houston Fire Department was established in 1838 with one station, Protection Company No. 1. It grew to a volunteer fire department status with three stations by 1859. After having provided volunteer firefighting services for 57 years, the City of Houston Fire Department began paying its firefighters in 1895. HFD is the fourth largest fire department in the United States and is responsible for preserving life and property to a population of more than 2 million in an area totaling 617 square miles.
Today's modern fire service is presently undergoing a transitional process. Over the last few years, HFD has evolved into a highly sophisticated public safety rescue system that has saved hundreds of lives and reduced the severity of countless injuries and illnesses. The Houston Fire Department has a vision that guides the organization towards excellence. That goal is achieved through deliberate planning, adaptability and the courage to embrace challenges and opportunities.
For additional information and/or to contact the HFD Public Education Division, call 713-865-7120 or visit the Fire Department Web page at www.houstonfire.com for a list of Fire Department Educational Programs and more.
Harris County Sherrif’s Department
The Harris County Sheriff’s Department operates in the unincorporated portions of the county to ensure public safety. In addition to numerous other duties, the sheriff’s department operates four jails and a detective unit and offers community programs such as Child Passenger Safety Inspections, Vacation Watch and Rape Aggression Defense.
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