Jeep Weekend drivers face checkpoints, new beach rules

Authorities are telling people attending Jeep Weekend to be ready for checks, limited road access, and heavy traffic, as thousands are heading to the Bolivar Peninsula for the event.

The Galveston County Sheriff's Office said that there will be a driver's license stop on Highway 87, but they haven't said exactly when it will be open. During the weekend, there will also be more DWI policing.

As a safety measure, beachgoers must now buy a $10 parking pass sticker to get to most of the peninsula's shoreline. The rule is part of a broader plan passed by the Texas General Land Office to keep crowds under control and people safe.

They will set up a three-mile event zone from Monkhouse Drive to Stingaree Drive. This zone will make it harder to reach the beach and prevent cars from driving on the dunes. There will be one way in, at South Monkhouse Drive, and one way out, at South Stingaree Drive.

Among other rules, there will be a 15 mph speed limit, and no ATVs, UTVs, or golf carts will be allowed in the event zone. There will likely be a lot of police around, with officers monitoring traffic and ensuring that people obey the rules.

Sheriff Jimmy Fullen said the steps aim to reduce the safety risks associated with the event's annual large crowds.

The plan is mostly the same as the limits we put in place last year. The reasoning is because officials are still trying to find a balance between public safety and tourism. Jeep Weekend has become one of the busiest beach events in the area, which means that roads are often closed, police patrols are increased, and journey times are lengthened.

Visitors are being asked to bring valid identification, follow traffic rules, and allow extra time to get where they're going, as delays are expected.

Stricter regulations and a new permit system show that people are still worried about keeping crowds under control and protecting the environment as the event grows.

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