CHP Patrols I-10, Palm Desert July 4th Weekend, Seeking DUI Drivers

PALM DESERT, CA —If you plan on toasting the 4th of July, designate a driver or call a ride-share in Riverside County. The California Highway Patrol starts its annual Maximum Enforcement Period Wednesday, the agency announced.

In Riverside County, CHP officers will be out and about on state highways and roads across Riverside County starting Wednesday through Sunday. Officers are seeking drunken and drug-impaired drivers from the road during the agency's annual Fourth of July weekend crackdown.

The maximum enforcement starts at 6 p.m. Wednesday and concludes at 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

All available officers will patrol the streets for targeted violations during this period, according to CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee.

"Slow down, drive responsibly, and ensure you and your loved ones reach your destination safely," Duryee advised.

According to the CHP, during the 2023 Independence Day enforcement period, officers arrested 1,224 motorists on suspicion of DUI statewide, compared to roughly 1,000 arrests that occurred during the 2022 campaign.

Sixty-eight people were killed in crashes within the CHP's jurisdiction during the 2023 Fourth of July weekend.

For this year's effort, officers from the Beaumont, Blythe, Indio, Riverside, and Temecula CHP stations will deploy on Inland Empire freeways, highways, and unincorporated roads.

Duryee said officers will take a zero tolerance approach to any roadway actions that put other drivers at risk, but speeding will be the principal focus.

"Every additional mile per hour reduces a driver's reaction time and increases the severity of the crash," he said. "We're asking the public to choose safety over speed to ensure everyone gets home safely."

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department and municipal police departments throughout the county initiated saturation patrols Monday to snare DUI suspects and other scofflaws over the duration of the holiday period.