As Californians gear up for the final summer fling this Labor Day weekend, the California Highway Patrol is ramping up its presence on roadways statewide in an effort to keep holiday travel as incident-free as possible. The CHP's Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) kicks off at 6:01 p.m. on August 30, stretching through to the tail end of the holiday on September 2, 11:59 p.m., according to an announcement made by the CHP - Stockton on Facebook.
During the MEP, an increased number of officers will be on the lookout for motorists who may be driving under the influence—likely to be a boon for public safety, as Labor Day festivities often coincide with a spike in DUI incidents but also DUI checkpoints are expected, so drivers should be prepared for potential delays and are encouraged to think twice before getting behind the wheel after celebrating. "Remember to keep yourself and others safe by designating a sober driver or using public transit," the CHP - Stockton advisory reminds us, and if you encounter a suspected impaired driver, they're urging you to call 9-1-1 with the vehicle's vital details such as the license plate number, location, and direction of travel.
In the spirit of the holiday, the CHP - Stockton is committed to its mission statement of providing the "highest level of Safety, Service, and Security." Their efforts to proactively reduce the number of accidents and fatalities through heightened enforcement are part and parcel of this endeavor; as history has shown us, holidays traditionally see a surge in travel and, unfortunately, a commensurate uptick in traffic incidents.
