CHP to Crackdown on Drunk Drivers Labor Day Weekend

Expect to see more California Highway Patrol officers during Labor Day weekend: They're planning to crackdown on drunk drivers during the holiday weekend all over the region. 

All available CHP officers will be on patrol throughout California to give extra enforcement during the holiday weekend, from 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30 through 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 2, according to a press release. 

The added enforcement coincides with a two-week long nationwide drunk driving “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, which began Aug. 16.

“Through our education and enforcement efforts over the holiday, we are hoping to save lives and reduce the number of people injured and killed on California’s roadways,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow, in a news release. “Do not let your guard down just because summer is coming to an end; drive defensively and always wear your seat belt.”

A few statistics, according to CHP:

• During last year’s Labor Day Maximum Enforcement Period, 35 people were killed in collisions on California’s roadways. 
• Within CHP jurisdiction nearly half of the 16 vehicle occupants killed were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision.  
• CHP officers throughout the state made more than 1,300 arrests for driving under the influence (DUI), which represents an 11 percent decrease from the same period the previous year.