CHP Arrests 1,000+ on Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day Weekend statistics are in and over 1,000 drivers were arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Tragically, 31 lives were lost in senseless accidents throughout the weekend.

In Indio 11 drivers were arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. There were 19 collisions, and 10 of those collisions resulted in injuries. There were no fatalities related to drunk driving reported to the CHP.

17 drivers were arrested in Temecula, and that number is still high but it is down from the 20 arrests made in 2014. There were 16 total collisions and only 6 of them resulted in injuries, but none resulted in any fatalities for the city of Temecula.

There were 79 arrests made in the San Diego area related to drivers who were suspected to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. This tally of suspected drunk drivers matches the number arrested last year for the same period of time. There were no fatalities this year, while there were three deaths in 2014.

The Memorial Day Holiday crackdown begins Friday evening for most cities. DUI Checkpoints and saturation patrols begin as early as 6 PM on Friday evenings and continue through the weekend with many extending through 11:59 PM on Monday evening.

California Highway Patrol has been combatting DUIs by using DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols and they have proven to be very successful. They also encourage drivers to avoid problematic driving situations by designating a sober driver, properly using seat belts, and avoiding any potential distractions.

DUI Checkpoints have proven especially successful in preventing drunk driving and removing drunk drivers from the road. Smart Start of California wants to remind everyone that avoiding a DUI is easy. Make sure you appoint a designated driver, use a taxi or driving service like Uber or Lyft, or take it upon yourself to be the designated driver for your friends. It is significantly cheaper to use one of those options than it is to get a DUI. DUIs can cost tens of thousands of dollars in fines, penalties, and legal fees.