200 private escorts sought access to Austin F1 circuit
State and local authorities are reviewing complaints about out-of-town officers and unmarked vehicles that moved race guests through the city.
By Giulia Marshall ·
Approximately 200 private escort operations attempted to reach the Circuit of the Americas during Formula 1 weekend in Austin. Circuit of the Americas Chairman Bobby Epstein said 100 operators coordinated with the track to use a nonpublic entrance. Another 100 tried to bypass the security process and were turned away.
State and local law enforcement agencies are investigating these private escorts after receiving complaints. Preliminary information suggests some escorts involved out-of-town officers or private security personnel without law enforcement credentials. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis stated the department learned that officers from across Texas and possibly the nation participated.
Assistant Police Chief J.J. Schmidt said the Police Department is working with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and the Texas Department of Public Safety to improve accountability. TCOLE spokesperson Cade Andrews confirmed the commission received complaints about unmarked or unconventionally marked vehicles. Andrews said the office will refer the complaints to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Austin rules require police escorts to be off-duty, licensed law enforcement officers working for agencies with jurisdiction in the city. The code defines an escort as a compensated driver of a private vehicle with flashing lights and sirens. Officers must wear uniforms and may not run red lights, though they may block intersections if they enter before a light turns red. Violations are Class C misdemeanors punishable by fines between $300 and $500.
Davis noted that some escorts took people to restaurants rather than the racetrack. She said, “It is not public safety when you are escorting someone to a restaurant, which we heard was happening.” She added that the department needs to understand these operations better given the scale of large events.
Epstein stated that event organizers have little authority to regulate private escort operations. He described the issue as stemming from “rogue, entrepreneurial” operators. He believes escorts should be used for safety purposes rather than convenience. Law enforcement agencies also said they do not track these agreements, leaving officials without a definitive count of all escorts or the identities of the companies behind them.
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office said its deputies were not employed off-duty by COTA and had no involvement with the event. The Texas Department of Public Safety provided one routine dignitary escort at the dignitary’s request. The agency stated the escort was not directly related to F1. Police Department spokesperson Anna Sabana said some off-duty Austin officers participated but did not provide an estimate. She noted the department has contacted other agencies to determine who else was involved.
