CHP’s Christmas Enforcement Campaign
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – Drive safe and sober during the upcoming Christmas holiday weekend, or face consequences, the California Highway Patrol warned Tuesday.
The agency will initiate its annual Christmastime “maximum enforcement period” beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, when all available officers will deploy to catch drunken or drug-impaired drivers, speeders and other scofflaws.
The MEP will conclude late Monday night.
“As we celebrate the joy of the season, let’s make a collective commitment to prioritize safety on our roads,” CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said. “Your loved ones are waiting for you at home — buckle up, drive responsibly and have a plan that includes a safe, sober ride before you head out for the evening.”
During last year’s Christmas MEP, CHP officers statewide arrested 639 motorists on suspicion of DUI, compared to 341 the year before, which was of much shorter duration. According to the agency, 26 people died in crashes within the CHP’s jurisdiction during Christmas weekend 2022. Almost half of the victims were not wearing safety restraints.
Officers from the Riverside, Blythe, Beaumont, Indio and Temecula CHP stations will be on inland freeways, highways and unincorporated roads, looking to snare traffic violators.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, along with multiple municipal agencies countywide, are currently conducting their own operations, staffing sobriety checkpoints and deploying targeted patrols as part of a year- end enforcement mobilization.
Another MEP is slated for New Year’s weekend.
For More Riverside County News Visit www.zapinin.com/riverside-county-news.