The California Highway Patrol (CHP) will conduct a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) starting at 6:01 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023.
Additional officers from the CHP will be deployed all over California on the New Year’s Eve weekend with the intent to remove drunk and drug-impaired drivers from the road.
During that time, all available CHP officers will be out on patrol to look for drivers who appear to be under the influence, as well as those traveling at unsafe speeds, or not wearing their seatbelts.
To strengthen this year’s holiday traffic safety effort, the CHP will again coordinate with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and law enforcement partners from all over the Western United States.
“We send out all of our officers and we just want to educate and promote safety and decrease the numbers of people that are driving under the influence of alcohol. We know that people are going to be celebrating. So we want everyone to just be safe,” Shanelle Gonzalez, Media Contact Coordinator for CHP Southern Division told Pasadena Now.
In the coming days, Gonzalez said that the CHP will deploy more officers in the Pasadena area due to the upcoming Rose Parade and Rose Bowl.
She added that CHP will work with the Pasadena Police Department and the Sheriff’s Department to ensure the safety of thousands of spectators during the Rose Parade.
During the previous new year’s MEP, 29 people were killed statewide. The CHP arrested 495 impaired drivers, issued over 2,300 citations for speeding and 26 citations for seat belt violations.
The 2020-21 New Year’s MEP netted 709 arrests for driving under the influence compared to 491 in the 2019-20 campaign, which lasted only 30 hours because it was conducted in the middle of the week.
Gonzalez reminded the public to designate a sober driver and wear seatbelts while on the road.
“We just want to make sure that everyone is safe during the holidays. We want everyone to use their seatbelt while they’re driving. We just want everyone to make it to their final destination.”
“We just want everyone to be safe and if they’re going to have a party, just make sure they designate a sober driver,” she concluded.
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One thought on “California Highway Patrol’s Year End Crackdown on Impaired Drivers to Begin Friday”
Good for you. We definitely need it!!! But please be safe yourselves, i love seeing the police, highway patrol, and the sheriff’s on the roads. And thank you for keeping our communitys and us safe, you have my support. I love you and may God keep you safe this holiday season, God bless you!!!