California Highway Patrol officers Sunday evening will conclude patrols on state highways and roads across Riverside County to catch drunken and drug-impaired drivers as part of the agency’s annual Fourth of July weekend crackdown.
The statewide “maximum enforcement period” began at 6 p.m. Wednesday and is set to conclude at 11:59 p.m. Sunday.
“The safety of the public is our top priority,” CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said. “Slow down, drive responsibly and ensure you and your loved ones reach your destination safely.”
During last year’s Independence Day MEP, officers arrested 1,224 motorists on suspicion of DUI statewide, compared to roughly 1,000 arrests that occurred during the 2022 campaign, according to the CHP.
Sixty-eight people were killed in crashes within the CHP’s jurisdiction during the 2023 Fourth of July weekend.
Officers from the Beaumont, Blythe, Indio, Riverside and Temecula CHP stations have deployed on Inland Empire freeways, highways and unincorporated roads for this year’s effort.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and municipal police departments throughout the county initiated saturation patrols Monday to snare DUI suspects and other scofflaws over the duration of the holiday period.
Those patrols will also wrap up Sunday.