Don't mess with Texas

**TEXAS’ FAVORITE SLOGAN** Don’t mess with Texas® was created in 1985 when the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) began thinking of a new anti-litter campaign. When a marketing agency presented “Don’t mess with Texas” as a campaign slogan, some members of TxDOT worried that the line would seem too harsh and direct. However, the first commercial in 1986 staring blues guitarist [Stevie Ray Vaughn](https://www.dontmesswithtexas.org/commercials/stevie-ray-vaughn) proved to be an overnight success. Soon, everyone was using the phrase Don’t mess with Texas. The campaign has worked with many Texans since 1986 from George Strait and Willie Nelson to Joe Jonas and Ethan Hawke. More importantly, Don’t mess with Texas has helped to oversee a significant decline in littering since the campaign’s launch. Litter has dropped over 50% since 1995 and continues to decline. While the campaign has seen some changes throughout the years, one thing always remains the same, Don’t mess with Texas is about keeping our roads and highways clean. Don’t mess with Texas means don’t litter.