California Highway Patrol on the lookout for drunk drivers, speeders, seat belt violations

This holiday season the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will dispatch a major strike force cracking down on DUI, speeding and seat belts, the three major contributors to deaths on the roadways.

During last month’s Thanksgiving holiday statewide fatalities were up from the previous year. “We’re determined to reverse those numbers for the Christmas holiday season,” Captain Steve Badilla said. “But we need the public’s help.”

To meet this challenge, additional CHP officers will be on the road, air operations will be fully deployed throughout the state, and CHP will be partnering with the Office of Traffic Safety, Alcoholic Beverage Control, Caltrans, Department of Motor Vehicles, as well as local law enforcement.

“We want everybody to enjoy the holidays,” Badilla said. “But if you’re going to be drinking, arrange in advance to have a designated driver who will not be drinking alcohol.”

Operation STAR began Dec. 16 and will continue through midnight, Mon., Jan. 2.

“As part of our second annual Operation STAR, for two weeks additional uniformed CHP officers will be out on the roadways,” Badilla said. “Last year this resulted in a dramatic 25.5 percent drop in deaths.” Sixty-three fewer people were killed as compared with the same period in 2003.

“We hope to continue that trend with this year’s Operation STAR,” Badilla said.