Chaves County Sees Continued Street Racing Crackdown

Despite recent efforts, illegal racing persists in Roswell area

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Chaves County Sheriff's Office in New Mexico has continued its crackdown on street racing, with two separate incidents over the weekend resulting in arrests, citations, and vehicle tows. Despite recent enforcement actions, the racers have persisted in taking to the streets of Roswell to compete illegally.

Why it matters

Street racing poses serious risks to public safety, with high speeds and reckless driving leading to the potential for collisions, injuries, and property damage. The ongoing issue in Chaves County highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in curbing this dangerous behavior, even after taking enforcement actions against offenders.

The details

In the first incident on Saturday evening, deputies witnessed two trucks racing each other directly in front of the Chaves County Sheriff's Office. One of the drivers, in a tan Ford pickup, was arrested and had his vehicle towed. The second driver fled the scene. Later that night, deputies saw two more vehicles racing on Main Street, with one driver - a juvenile - cited and her vehicle towed. The other driver, Jason Carman, was also charged and had his car impounded.

  • On March 9, 2026 at 5:40 p.m., deputies saw two trucks racing in front of the sheriff's office.
  • On March 9, 2026 at 9:44 p.m., deputies saw two more vehicles racing on Main Street.

The players

Chaves County Sheriff's Office

The local law enforcement agency responsible for policing the Roswell area and cracking down on illegal street racing incidents.

Jason Carman

A driver who was stopped and charged with racing on roadways and driving with an arrest clause on his license.

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What’s next

The Chaves County Sheriff's Office will continue to monitor the area and make arrests of any drivers caught participating in illegal street racing activities.

The takeaway

The persistence of street racing in Roswell, despite law enforcement efforts, underscores the ongoing challenge communities face in curbing this dangerous behavior and keeping roads safe for all drivers and pedestrians.