Local law enforcement readying for Memorial Day
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Law enforcement agencies across the Highland Lakes plan on bolstering their presence and patrols ahead of Memorial Day weekend, May 22-25, in an effort to enforce safe driving.
The Texas Department of Public Safety announced on Friday, May 8, that patrols would be increased statewide from May 11-25 as part of its annual All-American Enforcement Campaign to ensure safe driving practices ramping up towards the holiday.
“The Texas Highway Patrol (THP) will focus on enforcing seat belt laws and promoting safe driving behaviors to reduce crashes and save lives,” reads the announcement.
Burnet County Sheriff’s Office Captain Mike Sorenson told DailyTrib that BCSO would not be increasing their patrols ahead of the holiday season like DPS would be, but that enforcement vehicles would be stationed more visibly along major roadways.
While neither agency provided specific reasons for the increased enforcement during Memorial Day weekend, Texas Department of Transportation data from 2024 cited the weekend as the second most deadly of all holiday weekends in the state, behind the Fourth of July, with 46 fatal crashes and 55 fatalities.
Memorial Day remains one of the larger travel holidays for Texans, with a total of 3.2 million residents expected to travel by car throughout the weekend.