The California Highway Patrol announced it arrested nearly 1,000 drivers who drove under the influence during the Independence Day Maximum Enforcement Period.
Officers made 998 arrests during the 78-hour holiday enforcement effort state-wide, which aims to deter those driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Impaired driving resulted in 44 deaths due to collisions state-wide, CHP announced Tuesday on social media.
Many throughout the state celebrated the three-day weekend, with Independence Day falling on a Monday. The CHP Maximum Enforcement Period began at 6:01 P.M. on Friday, July 1, and continued through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, July 4.
In 2021, deputies arrested 909 people for impaired driving in San Diego County. An impaired driving arrest and conviction can cost more than $15,000 in legal and court fees.
The CHP recently announced it awarded more than $12 million in grant funding to 45 California law enforcement agencies, crime laboratories, and nonprofit organizations to help address the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The grants are the result of Proposition 64, the Control, Regulate, and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act, which tasked the CHP with administering grants for education, prevention, and enforcement programs to help communities combat impaired driving.
The San Diego Police Department is a recipient of enforcement grants. According to the CHP, the funds will also be used for drug recognition evaluator training to enhance their respective agency’s ability to detect impaired drivers. Additionally, funding will allow for public outreach campaigns, including educational presentations and community events.
The grants are funded by taxes placed on the cultivation and sale of cannabis and cannabis products in the state. The funds are made available to laboratories conducting forensic toxicology testing.
“These grant funds go beyond impaired driving enforcement efforts. Money will be used to support education, training, and outreach in communities throughout California,” said CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray. “This is an opportunity to work with various traffic safety stakeholders to help make California’s roadways safer for all who use them.”
