CHP Kicks Off Thanksgiving Crackdown In Pleasant Hill

PLEASANT HILL, CA — All available California Highway Patrol officers in Pleasant Hill and across 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 run 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 Amada 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.