CHP: Maximum Enforcement Begins Tuesday

Independence Day is a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) for the California Highway Patrol.   CHP officers will be closely watching motorists who are a potential threat to themselves and others. The MEP begins on Tuesday, July 3, at 6:00 p.m. and runs through Wednesday, July 4, at 11:59 p.m.

“When celebrating Independence Day, the CHP wants you to be safe. When driving be sure to leave plenty of time to get to your destination. Most importantly, before heading out, insist everyone in the vehicle is wearing a seat belt and children are secure in safety seats,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow.

Last year during the Independence Day MEP, 34 people were killed in traffic collisions in California. This was a significant increase from the 23 people who died in 2010, the last full year for which statistics are available. The CHP believes many of those deaths may have been prevented with the simple click of a seat belt.

“It is alarming to know that more than 80 percent of the people who were killed in vehicle collisions over the Independence Day holiday last year may have survived had they taken the time to buckle up,” added Commissioner Farrow.

Locally, CHP officers based in Indio took reports on 3 vehicle collisions which resulted in no fatalities and only one injury over the 2011 4th of July holiday.  CHP Officers also arrested 4 drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Driving under the influence is always a major concern for the CHP. Last year, over the Independence Day weekend, CHP officers made 1,562 arrests for driving under the influence.  Motorists are reminded to designate a non-drinking driver before they celebrate to ensure everyone’s safety while on the road.