CRYSTAL BEACH, TX – Nearly 350 Crystal Beach residents gathered earlier this week to voice their frustrations over Jeep Weekend, an annual event that has spiraled into chaos.
With more than 100,000 attendees, the latest event saw two shootings, one fatal, and nearly 300 arrests, overwhelming local law enforcement.
The Monday evening meeting at Crystal Beach Community Church highlighted the complexity of the issue. Residents and officials agreed that the current situation is unsustainable.
However, due to the Texas Open Beaches Act, local authorities have limited power to restrict access, and some solutions would require state legislative action. As per to the sources chron
Galveston County Precinct 3 Constable Derrick Rose emphasized the need for a balanced approach, stating, “We want to get it under control, but we want to do it the right way.”
Meanwhile, residents proposed various solutions, including issuing more littering tickets to fund additional patrols and discouraging rentals to non-law enforcement during the event. Join the discussion on the Reddit thread
Crystal Beach’s unincorporated status complicates the issue further, as highlighted by Galveston County Precinct 2 Commissioner Joe Giusti.
Unlike the incorporated city of Surfside, which hosts a more controlled Jeep event, Crystal Beach faces greater challenges in managing the influx of visitors.
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Adding to the woes, recent years have seen a shortage of extra DPS troopers due to redeployments for other state operations, according to Galveston County Precinct 1 Commissioner Darrell Apffel.
This has left local law enforcement severely understaffed during the event.
Suggestions from the Crystal Beach Real Talk Facebook group ranged from banning off-road tires on the beach to making Jeep Weekend a charitable event with a $50 entry fee.
As the community grapples with these challenges, one thing is clear: residents are demanding action to restore peace and order during Jeep Weekend.