BOLIVAR PENINSULA — The Galveston County Sheriff's Office deployed just over 300 law enforcement officers and operated a driver's license checkpoint on Highway 87 during Jeep Weekend 2026 on the Bolivar Peninsula from May 14 to 17. Reporters spotted only a single Jeep driving on the sand at Crystal Beach during the event, which in previous years had drawn tens of thousands of attendees.

Dozens of troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety arrived on the peninsula Tuesday, two days ahead of the event. "They will go over to Bolivar right now. They will get assigned their living accommodations, and then they will go out and start working their shift," Sheriff Jimmy Fullen said. The sheriff's office had warned earlier this month of a zero-tolerance policy for violations during the weekend.

"It's working out great. Doing this zero tolerance. We're starting to get back the clientele that we want on the Bolivar Peninsula and keeping the criminal elements out," Fullen said.

Drivers on Highway 87 were required to stop at the checkpoint and provide a valid license or risk being detained and possibly arrested. A three-mile event zone was established with one entrance and one exit, and no ATVs, golf carts or UTVs were allowed on the beach during the weekend. Anyone seeking beach access outside the event zone needed a beach parking sticker permit, available at grocery stores throughout Crystal Beach or from local vendors.

"We want people to come down and enjoy themselves. We don't want all the rowdies coming down here shooting, kidnapping, sexually assaulting and running over our kids who are playing on the beaches. So we're going to do everything we can to deter that," Fullen said.

In previous years, Jeep Weekend was the scene of deaths and shootings, including a deadly shooting in 2024. Last year's event drew more than 500 deployed officers and resulted in 181 arrests and the recovery of 34 firearms, with officials reporting no major incidents. This year, just over 300 officers were deployed.

Cody Barnhardt and a friend drove to Crystal Beach from Dayton after seeing Jeep Weekend promoted on TikTok. "We thought it was going to be fun. Drive on the beach, stop. Throw some beads, probably," Barnhardt said. When asked about the low turnout, he said, "That's got to be it. That's got to be the reason, that's the only way." He and his friend do not expect to make the trip again.

Troy Wright, who owns a home on Crystal Beach, said the enforcement made a difference. "Last year there were shootings out here. This year the police, the county, they're doing a great job," he said. "People coming in, yeah I understand, they may be upset with it, but look at the safety aspect of it. It's great," Wright said.