Reported by Anabel Marquez

Texas Week at South Padre Island means more than just fun at the beach for many college students.

“We're gonna take a booze cruise over to Mexico and drink at a couple of bars over there,” said Jenna Elwood, who was walking down Padre Blvd. Saturday afternoon with another college friend.

Behind her, Samuel Hughes and Michael Kardokus, a college sophomore and senior from the University of Oklahoma stood by their truck with luggage and several cases of beer.

A trip to Mexico, they said, is definitely a part of their agenda.

“We're so close in South Padre, (going to Mexico) is an opportunity we don't get to have so often so we want to take advantage of it while we're here,” said Kardokus. “We place we're (staying at) advertised a couple of clubs down there.”

That’s exactly why Brownsville Police Commander Ramiro Rodriguez says his department gets involved.

After all, there are students like Hughes who plan to go to Mexico for the sake of drinking without getting punished.

“I'm not 21 yet, so I have a chance to drink down there and have a good time,” he said.

Commander Rodriguez said most of the traffic from the island usually converges at the bridge

“They go across to Matamoros and on their way back, what we do is patrol the area of the bridge.”

This year, three additional Brownsville units will be monitoring Highway 48 - the road from Brownsville to South Padre Island.

“We're hoping to minimize traffic,” said Rodriguez.

Downtown units will focus their attention on spring breakers crossing through international bridges.

If anything happens, Rodriguez said that Brownsville Police will be ready to contact South Padre officials.

“We're like the middle contact person. We let them know if we do get anyone from Mexico or do any type of arrests in the Brownsville Area.”