Red Sands is expected to be one of El Paso County\u2019s busier Fourth of July gathering spots on Saturday, with officials preparing for large crowds, heavy vehicle traffic and off-roading in the far East El Paso desert.<\/p>\n
The El Paso County Sheriff\u2019s Office said it will have extra patrols out through the holiday weekend. Sheriff Oscar Ugarte said the department is looking at about 60 to 70 additional deputies out on the streets for its Fourth of July operation, including deputies assigned to the Red Sands area.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of the El Paso community does travel to the Red Sands area to celebrate,\u201d Ugarte said. \u201cSo in partnership with the ESD, we will be inside patrolling the Red Sands area in ATVs and 4×4 vehicles just to make sure that everybody is safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
RECOMMENDED: El Paso rolls out $10 Uber discount vouchers to curb drunk driving over July 4 weekend<\/a><\/p>\n Red Sands is a popular destination for fireworks, gathering with family and friends, and off-roading. Dominic, an employee at an ATV shop in the Red Sands area, described the scene as busy, saying, \u201cThere’s fireworks everywhere. Everyone’s driving around.\u201d He added, \u201cYou see people chilling with family… friends.\u201d<\/p>\n With ATVs and other off-road vehicles expected to be part of the holiday activity, employees at a local ATV shop in the Red Sands area urged people to take precautions before heading out. Dominic advised riders to \u201clook both ways\u201d and \u201cmake sure to do maintenence.\u201d He also warned, \u201cIts always very easy to do one wrong move and you flip.\u201d<\/p>\n