A California Highway Patrol SUV rolls along Holohan Road in Watsonville. —Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—The California Highway Patrol will ratchet up its roadway vigilance over the New Year’s weekend by conducting a Maximum Enforcement Period from 6:01pm Dec. 30 through 11:59pm Jan. 2. During that time, all available CHP officers will be out on patrol with a focus on getting impaired drivers off the road.

In the 2021 New Year’s MEP, 29 people were killed and officers arrested 495 impaired drivers, according to the CHP. They also issued more than 2,300 citations for speeding and 26 citations for seat belt violations around the state.

During the MEP, CHP officers will be working to assist and educate motorists and enforce traffic safety laws throughout the county, actively looking for unsafe driving behaviors, including impaired or distracted driving, unsafe speed, and people not wearing seatbelts.

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A staff member wrote, edited or posted this article, which may include information provided by one or more third parties.

4 COMMENTS

  1. if you have to drink heavily to enjoy the New Year, you have a serious problem and you need to get help. don’t be a statistic or a headline in the Pajaronian with the word “fatality” attached.
    if you have to drink heavily, STAY HOME. AA and other groups in the community will be glad to help you with your addiction.

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