CHP adding extra patrols for July 4th weekend

It’s an all hands on deck operation for the California Highway Patrol.

“We are going to have our maximum enforcement period. And that is any officer available will be working the road and we will be looking for things that saves lives. Wearing your seat-belts, distracted driving and speeding, and of course DUI,” said Monterey County CHP Officer Oscar Loza.

The extra enforcement is for good reason. In Santa Cruz County there were 20 collisions and 26 arrests from July 3rd to the 5 th of 2014. During that same 3-day period last year, there were 23 arrests and 22 collisions. In Monterey County those stats are even higher, with 29 total collisions including one fatal accident.

“We’re going to have tourists start coming down to our area Friday night, Saturday morning. It’s going to be busy the whole weekend and we expect it to stay busy up until Monday night when everyone travels back home,” said Loza.

CHP encourages travelers to avoid Highway 17 in Santa Cruz County and also to expect heavy congestion from Freedom when traveling northbound on Highway 1. It will also be very busy in Monterey County.

“The 101 from Salinas to Gilroy, and Highway 1 to the Santa Cruz area,” said Loza.

During last year’s holiday weekend, the CHP made 930 DUI arrests statewide within a 54-hour period. CHP Officer Loza said he hopes that’s not the case this year.

“We hope everyone has a safe Fourth of July, and they make it home safely,” said Loza.