CHP Kicks Off Thanksgiving Crackdown In Pinole, Hercules, CoCo

PINOLE AND HERCULES, CA — All available California Highway Patrol officers in Pinole and Hercules area and across Contra Costa County and the Golden State were slated to hit the streets Wednesday evening in search of intoxicated and unsafe drivers amid peak traffic.

The CHP crackdown was expected to span more than 4 days, from 6 p.m. Wednesday through 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

Officers will look for drivers who are speeding, distracted or not wearing seat belts, among other potential violations. They will also be available to help drivers who need a hand.

CHP saw 33 traffic-related deaths during the Thanksgiving holiday last year, including 14 people who were not wearing seat belts. Officers arrested nearly 870 people on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to CHP.

CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray urged drivers to ensure everyone in their car is buckled in before beginning their journey and to avoid distractions. Drivers should also ensure children are in the correct safety seats, she said.

Thanksgiving is one of the year’s biggest traffic and travel occasions. This year’s traffic was expected to approach pre-pandemic levels.

Traffic was expected to be 278 percent higher than normal as more than 50 million people planned to travel for the holiday, according to a AAA report. Many travelers will fly, but car travel could increase by 8 percent over last year.

Los Angeles will likely see the worst Thanksgiving traffic in California, according to AAA. Drivers could experience traffic more than three times heavier than normal.

CHP Combats Retail Theft With Task Force

Effective immediately, CHP is also increasing patrols on freeway corridors adjacent to major shopping centers. With the holiday shopping season in full swing, the CHP is collaborating with local law enforcement agencies to aggressively investigate organized retail crimes, make arrests, and recover stolen merchandise from brick-and-mortar and online retail stores throughout the state, CHP officials said Tuesday.

The CHP’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force — ORCTF — assists local law enforcement agencies and pursues leads, identifies suspects, and supports criminal investigations.

"Immediately following the high-profile burglaries in the Bay Area this weekend, the CHP contacted the local agencies investigating the crimes and offered assistance," said Fran Clader, director of communications for the CHP.

Since its creation in 2019, the ORCTF has participated in 773 law enforcement investigations, made 240 arrests, and assisted in the recovery of more than $18.9 million in merchandise.

"The CHP remains steadfast in its efforts to help reduce organized retail theft," Commissioner Ray said. "We are collaborating with local law enforcement and district attorneys to apprehend and prosecute the criminals involved in this nefarious activity."