Meghann Marie Smith was killed by a drunk driver on SH 105 on October 26,2008.
Her parents then started the DWI Tracker Program in which they would patrol the roads of Montgomery County and notify law enforcement of impaired drivers. It is a non-profit organization and with fuel costs and little funds coming in the program has slowed dramatically.
In addition to the program they erected a sign which they purchased from TXDOT at the site of the crash. It remained for two years at which time
TXDOT removed it.
Currently there is a petition which is asking the state to waive this two-years on all signs of this type.
Impaired driving continues to be a serious problem in Texas that resulted in 1,057 traffic deaths in 2010.
The Memorial Sign Program for Victims of Impaired Driving gives family or friends of victims of drunk or drugged driving the opportunity to purchase a sign to be placed near the site of a crash.
The Memorial Sign, bearing the name(s) of the victim(s), serves to commemorate loved ones while raising awareness of this serious issue.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a Memorial Sign:
- A police officer’s crash report or another government document must indicate that drugs or alcohol were factors in the fatal crash.
- The crash must have occurred on the state highway system.
Note: We may request a copy of the crash report if it does not exist in our files.
An impaired driver is not eligible for a Memorial Sign.
State crash data is only available for the last five years. If the accident happened more than five years ago, the applicant must provide an official document showing the crash was a result of impaired driving.
Please see the program rules for more detailed information on eligibility and other aspects of the program.
Application
A person may apply for a Memorial Sign by completing an application which must contain the following information:
- Victim(s’) name(s)
- Crash date and location
- Applicant name and contact information
- Name of one of the vehicle operators involved in the crash
- A copy of the crash report attached to your application, if you wish to expedite processing
To apply for a memorial sign, please complete the application form. You may return the form by fax to (512) 416-3214. You may also mail the completed form to:
Texas Department of Transportation
Traffic Operations Division
125 E. 11th Street
Austin, TX 78701-2483
Sign Location and Display
TxDOT will install a Memorial Sign as close as is practical to the location of the crash. Final placement will be based on traffic safety and space availability.
Each Memorial Sign will have a blue background and a white legend displaying the following text:
- “Please Don’t Drink and Drive,” or “In Memory of”
- One line of text (limited length) with the name(s) of the victim(s) or the family name of the victims, if they shared the same last name
- Date of the crash
Sign Fee
The cost to the applicant for a Memorial Sign is $350, payable to TxDOT after the application has been approved. The sign will be installed only after payment of the fee, which defrays the cost of the personalized sign panel.
An installed sign will remain in place for a period of two years. At the end of this time, it will be offered to the applicant. The applicant will have 30 days, from the time contacted, to make arrangements to pick up the sign. After that time period, the sign will be recycled. The sign panel is aluminum and measures 48″ by 42″.
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