Don't Mess with Texas' has new campaign

AUSTIN (AP) - The famous "Don't Mess with Texas" antilitter campaign is launching a new effort to get Texans to use a litter bag in their cars and trucks.

The "Rock the Bag" tour makes a stop at the Texas Relays track meet this week in Austin, where those attending will be given litter bags as they leave. In all there will be 28 stops in 16 cities to promote the program.

Rapper Chamillionaire and designer Todd Oldham are volunteers in the campaign.

Fashion and home decor designer Oldham, host of Bravo's "Top Design," has donated a design for one of the litter bags.

Grammy Award-winning Chamillionaire is appearing in a "Don't Mess with Texas" television spot.

A new study by the Texas Department of Transportation reveals that nearly all Texans know they shouldn't litter, but more than half do it anyway.

The latest Litter Attitudes and Behaviors study revealed that 52 percent of Texans reported littering within the past year. The research also showed that 67 percent of Texans would use a litter bag in their vehicle.

"Today's worst offenders are under age 25, so it's key to make litter prevention as ap- + pealing as possible," said Doris Howdeshell, travel information division director for the Transportation Department. - - - On the Net: www.DontMess- WithTexas.org