HOUSTON – Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner and Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña called for residents across the area to bring in the New Year responsibly.
“Let’s close this year out safely and bring in a new year -- do it safely,” Finner said.
Turner called for people to avoid celebratory gunfire because what goes up must come down.
“Sadly many people still engage in this dangerous practice,” Turner said. “...It is illegal -- underscore illegal -- and dangerous. And let me underscore dangerous to fire a gun into the air. Discharging firearms in Houston is a Class A misdemeanor which is punishable by up to a year in jail, a $4,000 fine or both. Not only is is dangerous...it also pulls our officers away from calls for service to our neighborhoods and roadways. ... Engaging in this dangerous behavior puts our neighborhoods, especially our children, at risk for a potentially tragic situation. If you witness something -- someone exhibiting some of this dangerous behavior -- please call police when it’s possible or Crime Stoppers.”
Turner added that fireworks are also illegal in Houston.
Finner said there were 392 calls for service for celebratory gunfire last year and nine people were arrested over last New Year’s Eve.
“We want to put an end to it,” Finner added.
As for drunken driving, Finner said Harris County leads the nation in DWI deaths.
“We want to put an end to that,” he said. “Have a plan, be responsible, designate a driver, ride share. That is a crime that is 100% preventable.”
Finner said it’s also important to go home and avoid hanging outside events and clubs after celebration begin to break up for the night.
“Don’t hang out in parking lots. When things happen -- and they happen, it’s a shooting or something like that, it happens at the end, in the parking lot when the club is closed down, so let’s celebrate responsibly in all areas,” Finner said. “Get home safely. Leave on-time. It’s smart to leave a little early. You don’t have to close out the party.”
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