BOLIVAR PENINSULA, Texas – Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen announced new safety measures ahead of the upcoming Jeep Weekend, which takes place from May 16 at 6 a.m. to May 19 at midnight.
In a video posted Friday, Sheriff Fullen outlined the restrictions aimed at ensuring safety during the event, which typically draws thousands to the Bolivar Peninsula.
During past events, KPRC 2 has reported hundreds of arrests, injuries and even death.
Over the years, the Bolivar Peninsula has been packed with people, jeeps, ATVs, and other motorized vehicles during Jeep Weekend. Many residents have expressed their concerns about the event’s impact on the community.
“It is a nightmare, a total nightmare,” said Marcy Vandeventer, a resident. “I mean, we can’t even go to the store to buy stuff that we need because the stores are closed.”
Randy Vandeventer shared a personal experience, recalling a shooting that occurred nearby during a previous Jeep Weekend.
“We’ve been down here when my son was probably two cars over. There was a shooting. Luckily they didn’t,” he said, adding that the incident resulted in a fatality.
In an effort to combat the chaos, Sheriff Fullen shared the new safety measures on Facebook. “We look forward to seeing everybody on Jeep Weekend this year, but we also want to remind you that you need to follow the rules and obey the law,” he said.
This year, several restrictions will be enforced in the designated Jeep Weekend event area:
- Parking on the beach is not allowed.
- Loading or unloading trailers on the beach is prohibited.
- Golf carts, ATVs, and dirt bikes are banned.
- Mass gatherings are forbidden.
- Glass containers and littering will not be tolerated.
- Stay off the dunes
- Drivers license required to drive on beach
- Speed limit 15 mph
- Animals must be on leash at all times
- Bonfires prohibited
Regarding traffic, individuals are not allowed to stop, stand, or park along the beach or enter public safety zones. Traffic will enter on Honeysuckle Drive and exit on Stingaree Drive, with flow directed eastbound.
Resident Roy Nunnery said he has mixed feelings about the restrictions, stating, “I bought my beach permit, which means I have the whole year to park anywhere on the beach that I want, and now they’re restricting it because some other people have come down here and made this into it.”
Many neighbors plan to keep their distance from Jeep Weekend.
“I’m just gonna stay at home,” Nunnery said. Marcy Vandeventer added, “We will listen to sirens and helicopters landing, live flight till 3 a.m. It’s really a nightmare, and we’re hoping that what the sheriff did will help.”
The sheriff’s office will strictly enforce beach sticker permits for vehicles at all other access points on Bolivar beaches. Those who do not follow the rules could have their vehicles towed or face jail time.