'Maximum Enforcement:' CHP Deploys Extra Officers For Christmastime Speeding Crackdown

LOS ANGELES, CA — The California Highway Patrol on Friday night will begin its annual Christmastime "maximum enforcement period" where all available officers will be patrolling state highways looking for speeders, drunken drivers and other law breakers, the CHP announced.

The special enforcement window begins at 6 p.m. Friday and continues until 11:59 p.m. on Christmas Day.

While CHP's primary focus is on speed enforcement, historically the days around Christmas have been fruitful for DUI arrests. During last year's enforcement period, CHP officers arrest 639 people on DUI charges — equivalent to one arrest every seven minutes, according to the CHP.

"As we celebrate the joy of the season, let's make a collective commitment to prioritize safety on our roads,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said in a release. “Your loved ones are waiting for you at home—buckle up, drive responsibly, and have a plan that includes a safe, sober ride before you head out for the evening.”

The CHP said the annual surge of travel around the holidays comes with an increased risk of crashes and other incidents. During last year's enforcement period, 26 people were killed in crashes within the CHP's jurisdiction. Nearly half of those vehicle occupants were not wearing a seat belt, according to the CHP.

As the CHP ramps up patrols of freeways in the Los Angeles area, the Los Angeles Police Department has already begun deploying additional officers on local streets and setting up DUI checkpoints.