CHP Increases DUI Enforcement Over Holidays

 Posted on December 23, 2010 in DUI

The maximum enforcement will occur when the most people are likely to be celebrating. Increased patrols will occur from Friday at 6 p.m. to Sunday at 11:59 p.m. both this weekend and next weekend. California Highway Patrol officers will be focusing on DUI, speeding, and seatbelt enforcement.

Last year's maximum enforcement period lasted from December 18 to January 3. During that time, 22 people were killed in California accidents and the highway patrol made 1,104 DUI arrests with 48 of those arrests in Santa Cruz County. According to a CHP representative, there were 90 accidents in Santa Cruz County over the holidays last year, and 11 of those accidents were related to DUI.

California's law enforcement agencies take a very hard line against DUI. Earlier this year, Insurance.com released a list of what it considered the top DUI cities in the United States. When they measured the percentage of applicants for car insurance who had been convicted of DUI, they found that four California cities made their top 10.

It is important to note that the Insurance.com survey measured convictions for DUI. Their numbers rely on self-reporting and may not reflect the most accurate measurement of the prevalence of DUI. But, their numbers do show that California has a large portion of people who have been charged and convicted with DUI. This is mainly due to concerted law enforcement efforts against DUI, such as the maximum enforcement period that will occur this coming weekend.

Sources:

Santa Cruz Patch, "CHP Ramps Up Holiday Efforts," Ruth Schneider, 12/23/2010

Insurance.com, "The U.S. cities with the most drunk driving offenders," Mary Jane Diehl, 9/20/10