Texas state troopers will flood highways during the Thanksgiving holiday period, targeting drunk drivers, speeders, and other traffic violators as millions take to the roads.
The Texas Department of Public Safety announced its annual enforcement blitz will run from Wednesday through Sunday, with officers focusing on impaired driving and seat belt violations.
“Texas roads experience a major increase in traffic on both the days before and after the Thanksgiving holiday,” said Texas Highway Patrol Chief Bryan Rippee. “We’re asking everyone to be mindful, whether you’re in [a] passenger vehicle or a commercial truck — stay alert, be patient, follow the law and focus on getting to your destination safely.”
The stepped-up patrols come as Texas expects its usual surge of holiday travelers.
Last year’s Thanksgiving enforcement netted over 45,000 traffic citations and warnings.
Officers issued 4,082 speeding tickets and made 162 DWI arrests during the 2024 holiday period. Troopers also arrested 206 people on felony charges and 67 fugitives.
The enforcement push includes watching for violations of Texas’s Move Over, Slow Down law, which requires drivers to change lanes or reduce speed when approaching emergency vehicles. Officers cited 1,284 drivers for lacking insurance and 214 for seat belt violations.
DPS joins the nationwide Operation CARE (Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort) initiative, which coordinates holiday traffic enforcement across multiple states. The program aims to reduce crashes during peak travel periods.
As part of its 90th anniversary celebration, DPS released a Thanksgiving-themed coloring sheet featuring its safety mascot, K-9 Disco. The activity page includes safety reminders for children during holiday travel. The Keep Texas Safe coloring pages can be downloaded here.