New System To Help TABC Improve Investigations

Currently, local law enforcement officials are not permitted to cross jurisdictional boundaries such as cities or counties and the delays in reporting cases often occur and these cases do not receive a credible investigation…

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) has partnered with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the Texas Police Chiefs Association and and the Sheriffs Association of Texas to develop a new system to help TABC improve investigations of bars, clubs and retailers of alcohol who may be violating liquor laws.

The partners created a new on-call hotline, called Target Responsibility for Alcohol-Related Emergencies (TRACE), that allows law enforcement officers to more easily notify TABC when a fatality or assault occurs due to possible violation of liquor laws. 

Currently, local law enforcement officials are not permitted to cross jurisdictional boundaries such as cities or counties and the delays in reporting cases often occur and these cases do not receive a credible investigation because of the amount of time lapsed, according to TABC officials.

A grant from TxDOT will help pay for the TRACE program, which will be housed at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Wardens. The TPWD will staff the dispatch and pass information to the regional on-call staff for TABC.

This will allow TABC to interview those involved in an alcohol-related assault or fatality, gather credit card receipts and collect video surveillance of the bar, club or alcohol retailer with much less delay.

This was originally published by strategic partnerships.