4th of July Patrols
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – California Highway Patrol officers will be ramping up patrols on state highways and roads across Riverside County Wednesday and through the weekend to catch drunken and drug-impaired drivers as part of the agency’s annual Fourth of July weekend crackdown.
The statewide “maximum enforcement period” will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday and conclude at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, during which all available officers will hit the streets for targeted patrols.
“The safety of the public is our top priority,” CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said. “Slow down, drive responsibly and ensure you and your loved ones reach your destination safely.”
During last year’s Independence Day MEP, officers arrested 1,224 motorists on suspicion of DUI statewide, compared to roughly 1,000 arrests that occurred during the 2022 campaign, according to the CHP.
Sixty-eight people were killed in crashes within the CHP’s jurisdiction during the 2023 Fourth of July weekend.
Officers from the Beaumont, Blythe, Indio, Riverside and Temecula CHP stations will deploy on Inland Empire freeways, highways and unincorporated roads for this year’s effort.
Duryee said officers will take a zero tolerance approach to any roadway actions that put other drivers at risk, but speeding will be the principal focus.
“Every additional mile per hour reduces a driver’s reaction time and increases the severity of the crash,” he said. “We’re asking the public to choose safety over speed to ensure everyone gets home safely.”
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and municipal police departments throughout the county initiated saturation patrols Monday to snare DUI suspects and other scofflaws over the duration of the holiday period.
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