CHP Steps Up Holiday Weekend Enforcement On Bay Area Roads
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – Through midnight on July 4, law enforcement officials are taking part in a maximum enforcement weekend in the Bay Area, with a special emphasis on getting drunk drivers off the road.
California Highway Patrol officer Tony Tam said the Independence Day holiday weekend is one of the deadliest of the year.
"The July 4 weekend is a busy holiday weekend. We expect people to have a great time, especially with the great weather we're having," said Tam. "But as always, our concern is driving on the roads if they've had a little too much to drink."
Eleven people were killed in CHP jurisdictions during last year's holiday weekend and 1,438 were arrested for DUI.
KCBS' Anna Duckworth Reports:
Tam said the Labor Day and Memorial Day weekends also typically have higher numbers of accidents and fatalities.
"When you have the nice weather, people are going to go out and have a good time," said Tam. "They are going to barbecue and picnic. And a lot of times, they are going to have drinks as well."
Nationwide, the CHP reports that 410 people were killed in car accidents during 2009's 4th of July weekend and 40 percent of those crashes involved drunk drivers.
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