BEAUMONT (CNS) - Ghosts, goblins and ghouls may have free rein on Halloween -- but there will be no leeway for drunken or drug-impaired drivers, the California Highway Patrol warned today.
The San Gorgonio Pass CHP office plans increased deployments this weekend and on Halloween as part of an “enhanced enforcement” campaign to crack down on unsafe drivers, according to Pass Area Commander Capt. Mike Alvarez.
“Last year, 29 people were killed in car crashes across California in the days surrounding Halloween,” Alvarez said. “Additionally, impaired drivers caused 252 collisions across the state. Recognizing that our community's children will be out trick-or-treating throughout the weekend, and on Oct. 31st, the San Gorgonio Pass CHP wants to improve the safety of both motorists and pedestrians.”
According to the captain, officers will intensify patrols on Interstate 10, as well as state Routes 60, 74, 79, 243 and 371 during the campaign.
Alvarez said targeted patrols also will focus on unincorporated roads in the Banning Pass, Hemet and San Jacinto valleys where problems have been known to occur.
“The goal ... is to decrease the number of traffic collisions that (we have) experienced in past years,” the captain said.
He said a new CHP video about traffic safety awareness might prove valuable to the public. It can be found at https://www.facebook.com/CHPSanGorgonioPass/ .