For decades the little town of Clear Lake Shores has been widely known as a speed trap. But recently, they seem to have upped their game beyond speed trap status. There is growing public clamor on social media that the department has (according to one quote) “mutated into a military-style gang of jack-booted thugs who lie in wait for those who dare to pass through their town.”
Fewer than 1,300 people live in Clear Lake Shores. There were 43 DWI arrests there between January and August of this year. During the same time frame, Seabrook Police arrested 50 alleged drunk drivers. There are more than ten times as many people living in Seabrook. So chances of being arrested for DWI in Clear Lake Shores are ten times greater than they are a few hundred yards away in Seabrook! Keep in mind that DWI is one of those crimes in which the police officer can make the call. He has discretion. If he chooses to believe you are intoxicated, he can arrest you.
There are currently 13 paid police officers working in Clear Lake Shores – which is one for every 100 residents. That is three times the average ratio. In fact, there is no other municipality in the entire state of Texas with more police officers per capita, by a large margin. The closest example I could find in Galveston County is a very similar community, Bayou Vista. Like Clear Lake Shores, Bayou Vista is a quaint place on the water with a lot of canal and waterfront homes. There are over 1,500 people living there, There are 4 police officers working there. They have 3 DWI arrests this year.
The officers working in Clear Lake Shores brought in $1.2 million in fines during the first 8 months of 2019. So, on an annual basis, the typical Clear Lake Shores officer will bring in $150,000 or more in fines this year, far more than twice the state average. It is also a 300% increase over last year. This is why people are saying the department is overpolicing.
And it isn’t just DWI arrests. They have made 71 marijuana arrests – mostly for small amounts that wouldn’t even get you a citation in most Texas towns. They have been charging locals on golf carts with DUI, as if someone driving under 10 mph on a side street poses some kind of public danger. They have ticketed drivers who failed to use a turn signal to enter their own driveway! Like I said, it’s way past speed trap status.
According to the 2010 US Census, 4 black persons live in Clear Lake Shores. This amounts to 0.3% of the population. Yet somehow arrests of non-Caucasians are 15-20%, which is about 50 times what it should be. Don’t be caught “Driving While Black” in Clear Lake Shores!
Investigative reporter Wayne Dolcefino has requested dash cam video from the police department, but the mayor has refused to provide access to these public records. Dolcefino has posted photos of Clear Lake Shores police parking across the street from the only bar in town, apparently waiting for patrons to leave. Yes, it’s illegal.
In the meantime, although we hate to do so, we are issuing an advisory to our readers to avoid traveling through what has become a Gestapo checkpoint in our county. There have been numerous cases of shady deals by the city government and police in Clear Lake Shores over a period of many years. It is apparently a roach nest at City Hall, and the roaches hate to see the light shined on them. This is shameful, and we strongly support the citizens who are sick and tired of it.
