Galveston County Sheriff's Office has rolled out a new set of restrictions for Jeep Weekend on the Bolivar Peninsula, a move designed to safeguard both the high-spirited attendees and the local community who have to coexist with the boisterous festivity each year. The event, scheduled to take place from Wednesday to next Sunday according to ABC 13, anticipates nearly 100,000 people to converge on the beaches, necessitating enforcement measures to manage the masses and ensure public safety.
As laid out in a video post by Sheriff Jimmy Fullen and reported by Click2Houston, the new regulations are intended to prevent the recurrence of past incidents that have included hundreds of arrests, injuries, and even a death. Attendees this year will be prohibited from parking or unloading trailers on the beach, operating golf carts, ATVs, and dirt bikes, or engaging in mass gatherings. In addition, strict enforcement against glass containers, littering, off-leash animals, bonfires, and disorderly behavior is expected.
Galveston County residents have expressed varying degrees of tolerance towards the annual event. Marcy Vandeventer described her experience as "a total nightmare," with stores closing and peace disrupted. Another resident, Randy Vandeventer recalled a harrowing encounter with violence, telling Click2Houston about a shooting that took place just cars away from where his son was located.
The decree mandates no parking or stopping along the beach, a speed limit set at 15 mph, and strict adherence to the directions of law enforcement officers. "It's our first year making sure we are prepared," the owner of Longhorn Liquor, a business new to the peninsula, told ABC 13. They plan to remain open during the festivities, with added security in place to likely ensure the safety and orderly conduct inside their premises.
The stern presence of law enforcement will be complemented by traffic modifications designed to control the flow around event hotspots: Entry will be at Honeysuckle Drive and exit at Stingaree Drive, oriented eastbound. Residents like Roy Nunnery have noted the impact of these changes, as he lamented to Click2Houston about restrictions undercutting his beach permit's year-round parking privilege. Across the board, business response is mixed, with some like Big Store and Jose's Cantina altering hours or closing to steer clear of the tumult.
Vehicles not in compliance face the threat of being towed or operators receiving jail time if the need arises.
