The New Year's Holiday is typically a deadly one on the state's roads. And the California Highway Patrol will be out in full force to crack down on drunk drivers. Eighty percent of CHP officers will be on the roads statewide. CHP Commissioner Mike Brown says there will be a clear presence.
Brown: You're going to see across this state sobriety checkpoints and increased enforcement and in addition to that, you're going to see this maximum enforcement of the highway patrol and other cities, and we also have to be aware that we've asked the public to participate. We're asking them to call 9-1-1 to report a drunk driver.
The CHP says last year 38 people were killed during the New Year's Holiday period on California's roads. Thirty-three people were killed over the Christmas holiday this year.
The CHP is also pushing to make it mandatory for first-time offenders to install an ignition interlock device which tests a driver's breath for alcohol. If the person is intoxicated, the engine won't start.
