The California Highway Patrol will implement a maximum enforcement period beginning Friday in anticipation of increased traffic generated during Labor Day weekend.
The Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) begins on Sept. 2 at 6:01 p.m. and ends on Sept. 5 at 11:59 p.m. in an annual effort to get intoxicated motorists off the county's roadways. All available CHP officers will be on duty to assist motorists, and scout for traffic violations, including intoxicated drivers.
“Alcohol- and drug-impaired driving continues to be a leading cause of traffic fatalities and injuries in California, and the moment an impaired driver gets behind the wheel, they put themselves and every other person on the road in great danger,'' CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray said. “The CHP is committed to enforcement and non-enforcement strategies, including education and community engagement, to ensure the highest level of safety for everyone traveling throughout California during the holiday,'' Ray continued.
Forty-three people were killed in vehicle crashes on California roadways during the holiday weekend in 2021. According to the agency, CHP officers made 985 DUI arrests and issued more than 6,000 speeding citations throughout the state during last year’s Labor Day weekend.
The agency urges travelers to buckle up, drive at a safe speed, and never drive impaired. Officials advise people to designate a driver or utilize a ride-share service instead of driving while intoxicated.
Anyone who sees or suspects an impaired driver is urged to call 9-1-1 immediately and provide the dispatcher with a description of the vehicle, the license plate number, location, and direction of travel.
“Your phone call may save someone’s life,” CHP wrote in a statement.
