Law enforcement will be out in force throughout the Memorial Day weekend as they look for motorists who may be driving drunk or violating traffic laws.
The California Highway Patrol says "Maximum Enforcement" (no, that's not the name of a direct-to-DVD Jason Statham movie) begins tonight at 6:01 p.m. and continues through Monday night at 11:59 p.m.. That means all available officers will be on patrol (and presumably drawing that sweet holiday double-time pay) looking for drunk drivers and people doing things they aren't supposed to be doing on the road.
"Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start of summer and a time when many families and travelers will be on the go,'' said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. "CHP officers will take to the roads throughout the holiday weekend and will be working to save lives through seat belt education and enforcement.''
In 2016, CHP officers made 1,065 DUI arrests during the same period of "maximum enforcement." Thirty-nine people died statewide in collisions with two-thirds of those people not wearing seat belts at the time of the accident, Farrow said.
So, stay safe this weekend Angelenos. Uber and Lyft are there for a reason. The average cost of a DUI in California (and that's if you manage not to hurt anyone) is over $16,000. A $50 Uber/Lyft ride is far cheaper than that.