Texas state troopers will crack down on drivers who aren’t focused on the road this week.
The Texas Department of Public Safety’s yearly campaign against distracted driving starts Monday. That means DPS officers patrolling highways around the state will be keeping their eyes out for people who are texting behind the wheel or don’t move over or slow down for emergency and law enforcement vehicles.
“We are already seeing the consequences of distracted driving in 2026 — Troopers have been struck simply doing their jobs on the side of the road, and it’s preventable — there is zero tolerance for distracted driving,” Texas Highway Patrol Chief Bryan Rippee said in a statement.
The increased enforcement starts on Monday and lasts until April 13.
Not moving over or slowing down is a misdemeanor that can result in fines of up to $1,250. Repeat offenders face steeper fines.
To comply with Texas’ “Move Over or Slow Down” law, drivers have to act when they see police, fire, EMS, Texas Department of Transportation vehicles and tow trucks stopped on the side of the road with their emergency lights on. The driver has to switch lanes to get farther away from the vehicle or slow to 20 mph below the speed limit. For example, on a highway with a 65 mph speed limit, drivers must slow down to 45 mph if they see such a vehicle on the shoulder.
During the same campaign last year, DPS issued nearly 80,000 citations, including more than 5,000 speeding tickets and more than 300 violations for people not wearing seatbelts or children not sitting in car seats. Troopers also cited roughly 1,800 people for driving without insurance.
DPS offered a few more tips for driving safely: