If you’re planning to hit the road this weekend for Spring Break or St. Patrick’s Day, expect company — and not just the festive kind. Texas law enforcement is out in force, and they’re not just waving flags.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has launched its annual traffic enforcement campaign, running from March 9 through March 17, deploying Texas Highway Patrol (THP) troopers across the state to crack down on speeding, drunk driving, seat belt violations, and other traffic offenses. It’s one of the most visible enforcement pushes of the year, timed deliberately to coincide with two of the busiest — and historically most dangerous — travel periods on Texas roads.
A Statewide Push With National Backing
“These are heavy traffic times as people get out to celebrate, but safety must always come first,” said Texas Highway Patrol Chief Bryan Rippee. It’s the kind of statement that sounds routine until you look at what happened last year — and then it doesn’t sound routine at all.
The Texas campaign is also part of a broader federal initiative. THP’s enforcement effort runs in coordination with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Operation CARE, a nationwide program designed to increase officer presence on highways during high-crash periods. Texas isn’t alone in this. Departments across the country are ramping up patrols simultaneously, with the shared goal of reducing fatal and serious injury crashes during what data consistently shows are peak-risk travel windows.
Last Year’s Numbers Tell the Story
How bad does it get? Consider this: during last year’s Spring Break and St. Patrick’s Day enforcement period, DPS troopers issued more than 93,232 citations and warnings across the state. That’s not a typo. Among those, 6,425 were for speeding, 516 involved seat belt or child seat violations, and 2,483 drivers were cited for operating a vehicle without insurance. Perhaps most striking — troopers made 552 felony and fugitive arrests during that same stretch, a reminder that routine traffic stops sometimes turn into something far more consequential.
Still, the sheer volume of stops points to something else: a lot of people simply aren’t following the rules, and the holidays tend to make that worse.
What Troopers Are Watching For
Beyond DWI checkpoints and speed traps, DPS is also reminding drivers of Texas’ Move Over or Slow Down law, which requires motorists to change lanes or reduce speed when passing emergency vehicles stopped on the roadside. It’s a law that gets violated constantly and, according to safety advocates, costs lives. Other reminders include buckling up every trip, slowing down in bad weather conditions, driving defensively in heavy traffic, and — something many Texas drivers seem to forget — using the left lane for passing only on multi-lane highways.
That last one. Every Texan knows someone who doesn’t do it.
Even the Kids Are Getting a Safety Briefing
On a lighter note, DPS has also rolled out a new Spring Break-themed coloring and activity sheet for children, featuring the department’s beloved mascot K-9 Disco, complete with embedded safety tips. It’s a small touch, but it reflects a broader philosophy — that road safety education starts early, long before anyone gets behind the wheel.
The enforcement campaign runs through March 17. Whether you’re heading to the coast, a parade, or just a backyard barbecue, the message from DPS is straightforward: have fun, but get there in one piece. The troopers will be watching either way.
