CHP Office of Community Outreach & Media Relations

Contact: Fran Clader, Director of Communications, (916) 843-3310

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 8/30/2016

CHP URGES SAFETY DURING LABOR DAY WEEKEND

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Although the summer season will soon be coming to a close, many Californians will continue to take advantage of the warm weather into the Labor Day weekend. As the celebrations commence, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) wants everyone to enjoy their holiday and to remain safe on California’s roadways.

All available CHP officers will be on duty during the Labor Day Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP), from 6:01 p.m. Friday, September 2, to 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 5. Drug recognition experts and CHP officers will be on patrol watching for impaired drivers as well as assisting motorists in need throughout the holiday weekend.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched its annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign on August 19, and it will run through September 5. This law enforcement crackdown is intended to zero in on drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs and help reduce injury and fatal collisions. Research from NHTSA shows that high-visibility enforcement, such as an MEP, can reduce impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent.

“Too many lives are lost on our roadways every year as a result of impaired driving. Let’s end the summer safely and remember to designate a sober driver, wear your seat belt, and obey all traffic laws,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said.

During last year’s Labor Day weekend, CHP officers made more than 1,200 arrests for driving under the influence. Unfortunately, 32 people were killed in collisions in California during the same weekend, and at least seven of those people killed were not wearing seat belts.

If you see a suspected impaired driver, call 9-1-1. Be prepared to provide the dispatcher a description of the vehicle, the license plate number, location, and direction of travel. Your phone call may save someone’s life.

The mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security to the people of California.