Texas DPS Boosts March 9-17 Patrols; Jim Wells Enforces Speed, Seatbelts, DUIs

The Texas Department of Public Safety announced a statewide surge of highway enforcement set for March 9–17, 2026, and said troopers will be highly visible across the state with a local emphasis on speeding, seat belt and impaired‑driving enforcement. The announcement came in a March 5, 2026 DPS press release and was repeated on the agency’s Facebook page.

The surge is timed to coincide with spring‑break travel and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and is part of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Operation CARE campaign. Operation CARE is a North American traffic enforcement effort that aims to boost officer presence on interstates and highways across the United States and Canada during specific high‑crash periods. By collecting and reporting traffic enforcement data from law enforcement agencies throughout North America, CARE helps raise awareness about efforts to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes, DPS said.

DPS cited its own 2025 enforcement totals to frame the 2026 campaign. “Last year, during DPS’ 2025 Spring Break and St. Patrick’s Day enforcement efforts, there were more than 93,232 citations and warnings issued,” the March 5 press release said. The agency’s 2025 breakdown included over 6,425 speeding violations; 516 seat belt and child seat violations; 2,483 violations for driving without insurance; and 552 felony and fugitive arrests.

Texas Highway Patrol Chief Bryan Rippee is quoted in the DPS release emphasizing visible patrols and safety priorities. “These are heavy traffic times as people get out to celebrate, but safety must always come first,” Rippee said. “Our Troopers will be highly visible across the state, focused on preventing impaired driving, speeding and other dangerous behaviors that put lives at risk. We want everyone to enjoy their time with family and friends — and make it home safely.”

Corpus Christi reporting included a local interview with DPS Sergeant Rob Mallory, who stressed speed as a leading cause of fatalities. “One of the main reasons we see crashes in the state of Texas is for speed. It's the top contributor to fatal crashes in the state. So you know, we want people to follow that speed limit. It was set there for a reason,” Mallory told KRIS 6 News. KRIS also noted DPS has produced a spring break public service announcement being shared across the agency’s social media platforms.

DPS outlined enforcement priorities for the March 9–17 campaign: speeding, seat belt and child‑seat violations, impaired driving, driving without insurance and other traffic violations, and the agency noted felony and fugitive arrests during last year’s patrols. The press release and accompanying local coverage in Wichita Falls, Bryan and Corpus Christi did not provide county‑level deployment schedules, checkpoint locations or staffing numbers for Jim Wells County, and DPS did not release a county‑by‑county map of patrol locations.

DPS reminded drivers of its core safety messaging: “DPS reminds drivers to always drive sober, obey posted speed limits, buckle up and eliminate distractions behind the wheel. Texans are encouraged to plan ahead, designate a sober driver and make responsible choices to help ensure a safe spring break and holiday for all.” Jim Wells County motorists traveling on interstates and highways should expect increased trooper visibility during March 9–17, 2026.