CHP Officers Begin Strict Enforcement Today For Long Holiday Weekend
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — California Highway Patrol officers announced Thursday that they will be out in full force patrolling the roadways for the Fourth of July weekend.
Starting at 6 p.m. Thursday, all available officers around the state will be looking for impaired drivers on freeways and county roads.
"We want everyone to have a great Independence Day weekend, but also want you to do it safely and responsibly," CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said.
Each checkpoint will be staffed by CHP officers who are trained in the detection of impaired drivers, equipped with state of the art hand-held breath testing devices providing accurate blood alcohol concentrations of suspected drunk drivers.
On Thursday, July 3:
Ventura County will be conducting a multi-location sobriety and driver's license checkpoint at undisclosed locations within the city of Oxnard from 6 pm. - 12 a.m.
Arcadia Police officers will conduct a DUI check point during the evening hours.
On Saturday, July 5:
The Manhattan Beach Police Department will be conducting a DUI and driver's license checkpoint from 8 p.m. - 3 a.m.
Officers will conduct a sobriety checkpoint in the unincorporated City of Industry area around 9 p.m.
The Thousand Oaks Police Department has planned an additional checkpoint to be held. It is unclear what the time frame for this checkpoint will be.
Occasionally, the Arcadia Police Department will host a multi-agency sobriety and driver's license checkpoint during the evening hours.
The "maximum enforcement period" will continue through 11:59 p.m. Monday.
Officers advice motorists to follow these common sense guidelines to enjoy a safe holiday weekend:
- Use public transportation, if possible
- Wear your seatbelt at all times
- Don't get behind the wheel if you become impaired
- Designate a sober driver before leaving home
"Our goal is to use education and enforcement to get the message out: to be responsible this weekend," Farrow said.
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