CHP Report On Holiday Travelers In The Snow

Sonora, CA — Snow played a role in changing the stats of this year’s California Highway Patrol Christmas holiday Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP).

According to Sgt. Gary Soria, the Sonora area CHP did not make any arrests for driving under the influence, there was one minor injury accident, one non injury accident and no fatalities. He also reports the snow made it a very busy weekend on Highway 108 with people coming up to ski and go sledding. Sgt Soria says the CHP helped with chain restriction enforcement and assisting many with vehicles that were spinning out and who needed to be towed from snowy/icy areas.

The Sonora area CHP issued 14 speeding tickets and eight other citations. None of the citations were for not wearing a seat belt or using a cell phone while driving. Last year there were six DUI arrests. This year on December 22nd before the MEP an officer was injured in a minor accident involving his patrol car. Speed and rain were a factor, details are here.

In Calaveras County, Officer Rebecca Myers of the San Andreas CHP reports there were three DUI arrests and no fatalities between 6:00 pm Wednesday and 11:59 pm Sunday. The CHP Officers handled 6 accidents that were non injury to minor injury incidents, none of the accidents were DUI related.

During the MEP Christmas holiday period the San Andreas Officers wrote 8 citations, all were for speeding except one which was for failing to stop at a stop sign. Last year San Andreas officials issued 40 citations.

The CHP will reminds motorists that there will be another MEP beginning December 31st at 6 p.m. through Sunday, Jan. 3 at 11:59 p.m.