'zero tolerance policy' during Jeep Weekend

[thetragichippy]

There were more than 400 officers used this weekend on the Bolivar Peninsula, not counting EMS, the paddy wagons, etc..... They had check points at both ends of the peninsula, checking every vehicle for any traffic violation.  I imagine that is costing Galveston County a pretty good chunk of change. I doubt the revenue from the tickets will put a dent in it. 

They sure sent a message. I'm a law abiding citizen for the most part. I always have a valid ID, well maintained vehicle and proper insurance. I do speed occasionally, understanding the risk and knowing I may receive a ticket. However, when I go to the beach for relaxation, I don't want to wait in line 1 to 2 hours to basically prove I'm doing nothing wrong....or get a ticket because I didn't realize a license plate light was out......

There were 275 arrest........52 were felony charges, the rest misdemeanors..... I would like to see the number of "warnings" they gave....my guess, not many if any at all. 

I totally back the blue, always have, but I feel this was an over the top response to trying to fix a problem. 

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[baddog]

49 minutes ago, thetragichippy said:

There were more than 400 officers used this weekend on the Bolivar Peninsula, not counting EMS, the paddy wagons, etc..... They had check points at both ends of the peninsula, checking every vehicle for any traffic violation.  I imagine that is costing Galveston County a pretty good chunk of change. I doubt the revenue from the tickets will put a dent in it. 

They sure sent a message. I'm a law abiding citizen for the most part. I always have a valid ID, well maintained vehicle and proper insurance. I do speed occasionally, understanding the risk and knowing I may receive a ticket. However, when I go to the beach for relaxation, I don't want to wait in line 1 to 2 hours to basically prove I'm doing nothing wrong....or get a ticket because I didn't realize a license plate light was out......

There were 275 arrest........52 were felony charges, the rest misdemeanors..... I would like to see the number of "warnings" they gave....my guess, not many if any at all. 

I totally back the blue, always have, but I feel this was an over the top response to trying to fix a problem. 

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I see your point but the Jeep drivers brought this all on themselves. I’m sure there are lots of good people involved in Jeep weekend, but the bad ones have put a black eye on the event.

[thetragichippy]

14 minutes ago, baddog said:

I see your point but the Jeep drivers brought this all on themselves. I’m sure there are lots of good people involved in Jeep weekend, but the bad ones have put a black eye on the event.

It was not targeting the jeepers IMO - it was targeting everyone......and I looked at the arrest mugshots on Galveston County page....NONE of those folks looked like Jeepers,,,,,and they were arresting folks for no seat belts, brake lights out and cracked windshields.....among other more serious crimes

[baddog]

8 minutes ago, thetragichippy said:

It was not targeting the jeepers IMO - it was targeting everyone......and I looked at the arrest mugshots on Galveston County page....NONE of those folks looked like Jeepers,,,,,and they were arresting folks for no seat belts, brake lights out and cracked windshields.....among other more serious crimes

Really, arrested for traffic violations? I didn’t know that. I just go by the fact that, on a beautiful May weekend, the vendors would rather close their businesses than make tons of money. Like I said, I’m sure there are those who go to the beach to have a good time and not commit felonies, but Crystal Beach probably wishes Jeep weekend would go away. I have no problem with Jeep owners or Jeep weekend, but the past events speak for themselves.

[thetragichippy]

44 minutes ago, baddog said:

Really, arrested for traffic violations? I didn’t know that. I just go by the fact that, on a beautiful May weekend, the vendors would rather close their businesses than make tons of money. Like I said, I’m sure there are those who go to the beach to have a good time and not commit felonies, but Crystal Beach probably wishes Jeep weekend would go away. I have no problem with Jeep owners or Jeep weekend, but the past events speak for themselves.

yea, I think they over did it to make a point, but may have cost them more than they realize

[bullets13]

3 hours ago, thetragichippy said:

There were more than 400 officers used this weekend on the Bolivar Peninsula, not counting EMS, the paddy wagons, etc..... They had check points at both ends of the peninsula, checking every vehicle for any traffic violation.  I imagine that is costing Galveston County a pretty good chunk of change. I doubt the revenue from the tickets will put a dent in it. 

They sure sent a message. I'm a law abiding citizen for the most part. I always have a valid ID, well maintained vehicle and proper insurance. I do speed occasionally, understanding the risk and knowing I may receive a ticket. However, when I go to the beach for relaxation, I don't want to wait in line 1 to 2 hours to basically prove I'm doing nothing wrong....or get a ticket because I didn't realize a license plate light was out......

There were 275 arrest........52 were felony charges, the rest misdemeanors..... I would like to see the number of "warnings" they gave....my guess, not many if any at all. 

I totally back the blue, always have, but I feel this was an over the top response to trying to fix a problem. 

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I don't see how when many of the businesses close now, and others are damaged. Not to mention the cost of cleaning and fixing the beach every year. I'm not really sure what the legality is, but sometimes an "over the top" response is necessary to fix an over the top problem. I'm confident from seeing local residents on facebook that very few people in Galveston county are particularly upset by the drop in traffic OR the temporary closures/delays.

[SmashMouth]

Excuse my ignorance, but were there any parts of the beach that weren't a part of the Jeep weekend and weren't shut down?

I'll hold my narrative 'til I know the answer...

 

@thetragichippy @bullets13 @baddog

[baddog]

45 minutes ago, SmashMouth said:

Excuse my ignorance, but were there any parts of the beach that weren't a part of the Jeep weekend and weren't shut down?

I'll hold my narrative 'til I know the answer...

 

@thetragichippy @bullets13 @baddog

From what I understand, the beach they were allowed to drive on was one-way only. I also hear that locals who rent their cabins, allowed officers to stay rent free to put them in the scene 24 hours. This info is from my wife’s Facebook (I don’t do FB) so there is a +/- factor.

[mat]

4 hours ago, thetragichippy said:

There were more than 400 officers used this weekend on the Bolivar Peninsula, not counting EMS, the paddy wagons, etc..... They had check points at both ends of the peninsula, checking every vehicle for any traffic violation.  I imagine that is costing Galveston County a pretty good chunk of change. I doubt the revenue from the tickets will put a dent in it. 

They sure sent a message. I'm a law abiding citizen for the most part. I always have a valid ID, well maintained vehicle and proper insurance. I do speed occasionally, understanding the risk and knowing I may receive a ticket. However, when I go to the beach for relaxation, I don't want to wait in line 1 to 2 hours to basically prove I'm doing nothing wrong....or get a ticket because I didn't realize a license plate light was out......

There were 275 arrest........52 were felony charges, the rest misdemeanors..... I would like to see the number of "warnings" they gave....my guess, not many if any at all. 

I totally back the blue, always have, but I feel this was an over the top response to trying to fix a problem. 

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If I was going to relax at the beach, it would not be during Jeep weekend.

[mat]

3 hours ago, thetragichippy said:

It was not targeting the jeepers IMO - it was targeting everyone......and I looked at the arrest mugshots on Galveston County page....NONE of those folks looked like Jeepers,,,,,and they were arresting folks for no seat belts, brake lights out and cracked windshields.....among other more serious crimes

Most Jeepers are not the problem. It’s the other idiots looking for a party.

[SmashMouth]

47 minutes ago, baddog said:

From what I understand, the beach they were allowed to drive on was one-way only. I also hear that locals who rent their cabins, allowed officers to stay rent free to put them in the scene 24 hours. This info is from my wife’s Facebook (I don’t do FB) so there is a +/- factor.

Yep. It's my understanding too. I'm just wondering if other parts of the beach were available, why the jeepers, partiers, etc. weren't just diverting their little operation to those unrestricted areas. 

[thetragichippy]

2 hours ago, bullets13 said:

I'm not really sure what the legality is, but sometimes an "over the top" response is necessary to fix an over the top problem.

If I rented a beach cabin or even more realistic driving down there to play a gig ( I actually have one at the Gulf Range  July 12th) and was arrested for a taillight out or not using my blinker, I would be outraged. I get they needed to do something, but I think this was a bit much and will effect future beach rentals. I have a FB friend who rented a cabin months ago and had beachfront access but could not use the beach.....all sorts of problems this weekend.