Scammers have been calling Texans in various parts of the state, demanding that residents immediately pay for overdue red-light tickets.
The most recent incident was reported in Cleveland, Texas, where police say that residents have received calls from someone claiming to represent DPS and demanding payment on a red-light safety camera ticket. The scammers say that an arrest warrant will be issued if the person receiving the call does not provide a credit card number, as well as Social Security numbers and other personal information.

The Texas Department of Public Safety does not collect traffic fines or oversee red-light cameras.

“You should never give out personal information over the phone when someone else initiated the call,” said Steven C. McCraw, director of DPS. “If you receive a call like this, you should write down any contact information from the Caller ID, if available, and then contact your local law enforcement agency.”

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has been awarded $813,068 for the first year of a potential three year grant totaling $2.4 million from the United States Department of Agriculture to improve public access to wildlife recreation on private land. The grant is funded through the USDA’s Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, or VPA-HIP.

“This grant is fabulous news for hunters, anglers, paddlers, birders and others across Texas,” said Linda Campbell, TPWD Private Lands and Public Hunting Director.

“Along with river access projects, this important funding will allow us to continue to grow the Texas public hunting program, a high priority for hunters and TPWD, even in these challenging budget times,” she said.

The Texas Rangers continue to investigate last week’s border incident in which U.S. law enforcement officers exchanged gunfire with members of a Mexican drug cartel, Texas Public Safety Commission members were told by DPS director Steve McCraw.

During a Texas Ranger Reconnaissance operation in Hidalgo County on June 9, Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Wardens and U. S. Border Patrol agents interrupted drug smugglers who were attempting to move approximately 1,500 pounds of marijuana across the Rio Grande from Mexico to near Abram, Texas. The smugglers threw rocks at the officers and then began firing guns at them. The officers returned fire, striking at least three of the smugglers, who then fled back into Mexico.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) will deliver this week more than $800,000 worth of equipment to eight fire departments as part of a grant program administered through Texas Forest Service. The awarding of this equipment is the first of its kind and is part of a long-term strategic plan to develop TIFMAS resources around the state.

The Type VI engines were built at Siddons Fire Apparatus in San Antonio, where they’ll be picked up by the receiving departments next week. Vernon, Borger, Midland, Weatherford, Travis County, Pharr, Lufkin and Galveston Fire Departments are the recipients of the trucks, which cost about $100,000 each.

Departments in Big Spring, Brownwood, Georgetown, Lewisville, Mission, Nacogdoches, Flower Mound and Cedar Hill were awarded Type VI engines through the grant program in February.

Drivers who received tickets from the Texas Highway Patrol—and misplaced them before paying the ticket or making arrangements to contest it—can now look for the court information online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Drivers can search for tickets issued by the Highway Patrol within the past 24 months from the current date. Drivers must provide their driver license or identification card number, their date of birth and their full name as listed on the driver license or ID to perform the search.

Once they perform the search, the driver will be provided with the name, address and contact information for the court where the ticket was filed.

During the 72-hour Roadcheck 2011 program this week, DPS troopers will be looking for 18-wheeler drivers who have been driving too long, or are otherwise operating unsafe commercial vehicles. They’ll also be looking at passenger buses to make sure that they’re operating safely.

Although DPS enforces commercial vehicle laws every day of the year, troopers will join with law enforcement officers in the U.S., Mexico and Canada from June 7 to 9 in emphasizing driving safety.

Commercial Vehicle Enforcement troopers, noncommissioned inspectors and specially trained Highway Patrol troopers will stop thousands of commercial vehicles to inspect safety equipment and check driver log books, driver licenses and endorsements. Inspectors will also look for possible drug or alcohol use.

State lawmakers in Austin released a revised U.S. Congressional redistricting map proposal Friday that eased tension from local officials.  In the revised map, all of Brown County would remain in District 11, under the representation of Congressman Mike Conaway.  The first draft of the map that was released early in the week proposed that Brown County be split between District 11 and Congressman Lloyd Doggett’s District 25. (CLICK HERE to see original story).

If approved, the revised map not only has Brown County now completely in Conaway’s district, but also includes Mills and San Saba Counties as well.  The revised map now shows Erath County split down the middle between the two districts.

The Texas Department of Public Safety recommends you take safety for a ride this Memorial Day holiday.

DPS will do its part by having all available troopers patrolling Friday through Monday in an effort to keep the traveling public safer. Drunk drivers, speeders and seat belt violators face a greater risk of arrest or a ticket, because of the increased patrols by law enforcement agencies all across the state during the long holiday weekend.

“Holidays should be about having fun, not a knock on your door and an officer or trooper telling you your loved one has been killed or seriously injured in a traffic crash,” said Assistant Director David Baker, Chief of the Texas Highway Patrol. “Don’t let safety take a back seat this holiday season.”