Montgomery County District Attorney's Office hosts 2025 Summer Safety Press Conference

THE WOODLANDS, TX — On May 22, 2025, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office hosted the 2025 Montgomery County Summer Safety Press Conference—a collaborative effort of law enforcement, first responders, and community partners to encourage families to enjoy the season while avoiding dangerous consequences. This year’s unified message, “Make Memories, Not Memorials,” served as a powerful reminder of what’s at stake when safety takes a back seat.

The event was held in front of the Montgomery County Medical Examiner’s Office, a sobering and intentional backdrop underscoring the deadly consequences of impaired and distracted driving, unsafe recreation, and child endangerment during the summer months.

District Attorney Brett Ligon opened the event by emphasizing the shared commitment of Montgomery County’s public safety leaders to protect families throughout the season—and specifically addressed the increased risks facing teenagers during the summer months.

“Parents, please hear me. As we begin the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer, we cannot let their freedom become their funerals. That’s the first thing. The second is this—your teenagers are still your responsibility. They need your rules and your reminders.”

Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough echoed the call for parental involvement and urgency, stating, “Parents, we need your help. Teens are three times more likely to be involved in a crash during this time of year, and 60 percent of those crashes are caused by distracted driving.”

Sheriff Wesley Doolittle addressed the heightened enforcement efforts by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office this summer.

“This summer, our department is increasing patrols on high-risk roads, especially late at night and on weekends,” he said. “We will be conducting task force operations and cracking down on distracted driving and seatbelt violations—without exception.”

Chief Prosecutor Taylor Vanegas, who leads the District Attorney’s Vehicular Crimes Unit, announced that the No Refusal Program would be in effect throughout Memorial Day Weekend. “We’re not just here to write tickets or make arrests,” Vanegas said. “We’re here for compliance and for safety. We want people to make it home.”

Chief James Campbell of the Montgomery County Hospital District shared important summer safety reminders, focusing on preventing heat-related illnesses, promoting water safety, and encouraging families to learn CPR. “Whether you're spending time in the warm weather swimming or enjoying other activities, we hope you keep safety a high priority,” he said.

Chief Prosecutor Brittney Aaron of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Unit addressed the increased risks to children during the summer, particularly related to online activity. “Please talk to your kids—the more time they spend online, the more exposure they have,” she said. “Predators aren’t taking a summer break. They’re in chatrooms, on gaming platforms, and all over social media.”

Participating agencies included the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Montgomery County Commissioners Court, Montgomery County Hospital District, Woodlands Fire Department, The Woodlands Township, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), Montgomery County Constables from Precincts 1 through 5, and the police departments of Conroe, Magnolia, Oak Ridge North, Shenandoah, and Splendora.

As families prepare for a summer of fun and freedom, Montgomery County leaders urge parents and the community to keep safety front of mind—and to help ensure this summer ends with memories, not memorials.