SACRAMENTO,
Calif. – As millions of people venture out for the Thanksgiving holiday, the
California Highway Patrol (CHP) is preparing for one of the busiest travel weekends
in the nation.
To help motorists
arrive at their destinations safely, the CHP will implement a Maximum
Enforcement Period (MEP) and deploy all available officers through the holiday
weekend. The MEP begins at 6:01 p.m. on
Wednesday, November 23, and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 27.
“As with every
holiday, the CHP will work to keep motorists safe as they travel to gatherings
with friends and family,” said Commissioner Amanda Ray. “Our officers will be on patrol to take enforcement
action as necessary and to provide assistance to motorists who are stranded or
in need of help on the side of the road.”
During the
MEP, CHP officers will be working to assist and educate motorists and enforce
traffic safety laws throughout the state, actively looking for unsafe driving
behaviors, including impaired or distracted driving, unsafe speed, and people
not wearing seat belts.
According
to the CHP’s data, 42 people, including 16 pedestrians and one bicyclist, were
killed in crashes in CHP’s jurisdiction during the 2021 Thanksgiving holiday
weekend. CHP officers issued more than
5,600 citations for speed and seat belt violations. Additionally, CHP officers made 1,033 arrests
for driving under the influence during the four-day period.
“Enjoy
your Thanksgiving festivities, but please celebrate responsibly, wear your seat
belt, and always designate a sober, nondrinking driver,” said Commissioner Ray.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety,
Service, and Security.
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