The California Highway Patrol (CHP) will launch its annual Fourth of July DUI enforcement campaign this week, deploying all available officers across Los Angeles and Orange counties starting 6 p.m. Thursday through 11:59 p.m. Sunday.
The statewide maximum enforcement period targets drunken and drug-impaired drivers, with officers patrolling freeways, highways, and unincorporated roads. CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee urged drivers to make safe choices, stating, “Reckless driving and speeding have deadly consequences. It’s every driver’s responsibility to designate a sober driver and keep roads safe.”
During the 2024 Fourth of July weekend, 49 people were killed in crashes within CHP jurisdiction, down from 68 deaths in 2023. DUI arrests statewide rose last year, with 1,336 motorists arrested compared to 1,224 in 2023.
Duryee emphasized a zero-tolerance approach toward any behavior endangering others, with a major focus on speeding. In early June, a two-day CHP enforcement operation resulted in over 12,000 speeding citations statewide. Duryee previously noted, “Every additional mile per hour reduces a driver’s reaction time and increases the severity of the crash.”…