CHP increases enforcement over holiday weekend

Starting on Friday at 6 p.m. and ending Sunday at midnight, the California Highway Patrol will enact their maximum enforcement period in Humboldt County.

The enforcement periods are characterized by an increased number of officers patrolling the highways looking for signs of intoxicated driving. Maximum enforcement periods are typically enacted during periods of time where driving under the influence is more likely to happen, such as the holidays.

“The weather is going to be pretty bad this weekend, especially over the summit’s on (state Routes) 36 and 299. People need to avoid the roads if possible. If they have to be out and have to travel, they need to keep their speeds down,” Gabriel Parker, a sergeant with the CHP, said. “Any kind of alcoholic beverages or prescription medications, if they feel the need to partake in any of that, they probably should not be driving because when you have inclement weather, it’s going to enhance any kind of partial sobriety issues that much more.”

Last year’s Christmas maximum enforcement period, CHP made six arrests for driving under the influence last year in Humboldt County, and there were zero fatalities. Four of those arrests were in northern Humboldt County, two of them were in Southern Humboldt.

“Lots of people are traveling back and forth from friends and families’ houses. There’s probably lots of younger kids that are traveling with these families. I would think that it would be in everyone’s best interest to consider whether or not they really need to be out there traveling, but if they are, make sure that they’re doing so as safely as possible because other people’s families are going back and forth to their loved ones as well,” Parker said.