Vehicle Re-entry Stickers to be issued June 14 and 21

Vehicle re-entry stickers will be issued from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, June 14 and next Saturday, June 21 at the South Padre Island Fire Department to accommodate residents and business owners with busy schedules.

Stickers are always available during regular office hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the fire department, but officials recognize that weekday workers may some have difficulty finding the time to acquire those important return stickers.

The fire department is located at 104 W. Venus St. The stickers allow residents and business owners to regain access to the Island in the event of a storm.

"It's never too early to start preparing for a storm, and the stickers allow Island business owners and residents to regain access to South Padre Island after a major storm," said Emergency Management Coordinator and Fire Chief Bernie Baskett.

Only those business and home owners with vehicle identification stickers will be allowed onto the Island to check on property after a storm. Still, if Island conditions remain unsafe, no one will be allowed onto the Island. 

Residents are entitled to two stickers per family, while business owners may obtain up to four stickers on a limited basis.

To obtain a sticker, proof of residency is required, such as a utility bill or another document that shows a physical address; a driver's license; and the license plate numbers of the returning vehicle. Stickers issued in past years remain valid and will be honored this year as long as the address or vehicle has not changed.

There are three check points motorists must pass before they are allowed Island access. They are the intersections of Highway 48 and Highway 100, FM 510 and Highway 100, and Garcia and the entrance of the Queen Isabella Memorial Bridge.

If you have a sticker they will be waived through, instead of having to produce various proofs of residency.

Strict requirements are imposed to maintain safety controls on the Island after emergencies and disasters.

Baskett requests that when selling a vehicle, the stickers be removed, and if possible, returned to the fire department. Removal of the stickers helps ensure that only those persons with legitimate interests are on the Island during an emergency period.

For information on hurricane preparedness, visit the Island's emergency management Web site at www.spiemergency.com.