Christmas C.H.P. Statewide M.E.P. Totals Finalized

Sacramento, CA — The Christmas 78 hour C.H.P. Maximum Enforcement Period (M.E.P.) has been finalized.

15 people were killed in traffic related accidents in C.H.P. jurisdictional areas. More than half of those who died, eight, were not wearing their seat belts. The greatest loss of life, seven fatalities, was in the Central Division of which Tuolumne County is included. Ironically not a single life was lost in the county over the weekend. 

Seven individuals lost their lives in cities or non-C.H.P. jurisdictional areas for a grand total of 22 weekend fatalities. Last year there 37 total fatalities statewide (22-C.H.P. and 15 in non-C.H.P. jurisdictional areas).

This year there were 1,104 D.U.I. arrests as compared to 1,397 last year. Even though that is a 21 percent decrease it must be remembered that last year the M.E.P. was 102 hours in length in comparison with this year’s 78 hour total. A further comparison indicates that last year there were 13 drivers arrested on a DUI charge per hour while this year that number actually increased by one per hour.

Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com