Law enforcement agencies in the San Diego area will be intensifying their operations over the long Labor Day weekend as part of their annual efforts to get intoxicated motorists off the county's roadways during the unofficial end-of-summer holiday.
The California Highway Patrol's statewide "maximum enforcement" period for the extended weekend is scheduled to run from 6 Friday evening to 11:59 p.m. Monday, the state agency advised.
"Alcohol- and drug-impaired driving continues to be a leading cause of traffic fatalities and injuries," CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said. "An impaired driver behind the wheel puts themselves and everyone on the road in great danger. ... We will deploy all available personnel to ensure the highest level of safety for everyone traveling."
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department also will conduct heightened roadway enforcement over the period, the agency announced Friday.
In addition to keeping a keen watch for intoxicated motorists, patrol personnel with the agencies will be on the lookout for speeders, distracted drivers and other traffic scofflaws who imperil others on local freeways, city streets and rural roads.
During the comparable period last year, the Highway Patrol made more than 900 arrests for DUI and issued nearly 5,700 speeding citations statewide, according to CHP public affairs.
So far this year, a total of 4,457 people have been arrested in San Diego County on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, the Sheriff's Department reported.
Funding for extra Labor Day DUI enforcement comes from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, sheriff's officials said.
