Fox 11 in Los Angeles reports that the California Highway Patrol (CHP) made over 600 DUI arrests in the first 36 hours of the maximum enforcement period that was set in place for the three-day Labor Day weekend.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the CHP told reporters that 607 motorists were cited for driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
The law enforcement agency’s maximum enforcement period began on Friday, September 2, at 6:00 p.m. and concluded at 11:59 p.m. As of approximately 10:0 a.m. on Sunday, the agency had made some 607 DUI arrests across California.
“Alcohol and drug-impaired driving continues to be a leading cause of traffic fatalities and injuries in California,” CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray told reporters. “And the moment an impaired driver gets behind the wheel, they put themselves and every other person on the road in great danger,” Ray continued.
In 2021, CHP officers arrested 985 motorists on suspicion of DUI over the Labor Day holiday weekend. In 2020, the number of DUI arrests for the same period was 900.
Efforts by the CHP were mirrored by other police departments and sheriff’s offices throughout Southern California. They join other law enforcement agencies across the U.S. as a part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.
