Teton Park beginning 'high-visibility' traffic enforcement
JACKSON (WNE) — Law enforcement rangers in Grand Teton National Park will be conducting “high-visibility enforcement” this summer, with a focus on the park’s southern boundary.
Those efforts will include increased patrol presence and traffic stops focused on speeding, impaired driving and seat belt use.
The increased visibility of law enforcement is supposed to encourage compliance with traffic laws.
The enforcement operations aim to promote safe driving and reduce traffic incidents in the park. Car crashes are the second leading cause of unintentional fatal injuries in National Park Service units, according to the agency.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is funding the increased enforcement.
Wildlife-vehicle collisions are not infrequent in the park. The five-year average from 2019 through 2023 was 85.6, close to two per week, 74 of which are typically ungulates and 11.6 other large mammals, such as wolves, coyotes and bears.
Ungulate-vehicle collisions in the park have ranged from 112 in 2010 to 73 in 2023. In the first 11 months of 2025, there were 69 collisions in the park, of which 61 involved ungulates. Motorists killed at least five bison, two black bears and a grizzly bear in the park last year. A driver killed a wolf in the park in 2024.
Last summer, Teton Park rangers arrested four people and impounded two luxury sport cars after responding to reports of drag racing along Teton Park Road. The motorists were driving over 100 mph, with a top reported speed of 111 mph.
The announcement of increased enforcement comes amid the “100 Deadliest Days,” the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day, when traffic fatalities across the nation historically spike. Increased travel, summer celebrations, and a rise in reckless or impaired driving contribute to the seasonal surge in roadway deaths. Many crashes are preventable if drivers slow down, drive sober and use seat belts.
This story was published on July 3, 2026.
Ensure These Stories Are Told
Despite the challenges facing independent local journalism, what sustains us — and fills us with deep gratitude — is the loyal support of readers who believe our communities deserve accurate, trusted, and locally rooted news.
It is no exaggeration to say that we are here because of you. Every story we report, every local issue we follow, every public meeting we cover, and every community voice we lift up is made possible by readers who understand the value of an independent newspaper.
Your support does more than fund articles. It helps protect the independence that allows us to report honestly, ask important questions, and keep our community informed without fear or favor.
If you are able, please consider supporting the News Letter Journal by donating to our Unabridged Fund today. Whether your gift helps cover reporting time, printing costs, video, photography, editing, or distribution, every contribution helps keep local journalism strong in Wyoming.
All gifts are deeply appreciated. Your support helps ensure that local stories continue to be told, local decisions continue to be watched, and local voices continue to be heard.
Thank you for standing with independent community journalism.