YUMA, Ariz-
Labor Day weekend is right around the corner and that means it’s time to celebrate and have some fun.
Sure we all like to enjoy our holidays and hang out with our family and friends…But it’s important to stay safe especially if you’re drinking.
California Highway Patrol along with the Yuma Police Department and YCSO will all be having a maximum enforcement period where all available officers will be on duty and on patrol.
Public Information Officer Joe Franklin with the Yuma Police Department says, “Just like we say every holiday. We want people to be safe and have an enjoyable holiday but make sure that they plan ahead and get a designated driver. Anything of that nature that will prevent them from getting behind the wheel while intoxicated.”
Jeff Knutson, Public Information Officer with Winterhaven California Highway Patrol said, “According to our statistics…49 people died in California in both Labor Day weekend in 2014 and in 2013.”
And 12 of those people that were killed in CHP jurisdiction were not wearing seatbelts. Last years CHP officers made over 1,100 arrest for people driving under the influence.
Knutson says, “For the Winterhaven area we’re going to be enforce along with interstate 8 from the Arizona state border all the way to state route 98. And then we’ll be patrolling Ogilby Road north along with state route 78 up to Palo Verde.”
If you do see a suspected drunk driver CHP and YPD want to remind everyone to call 911 if its safe to do so.
Franklin adds, “There are many indicating factors…weaving is a major one that everyone knows about. Increases and decreases in speed. Not stopping at stop lights…falling asleep on stop lights…falling asleep at the drive thru window when you’re trying to buy food afterwards.”