After Independence Day, the Labor Day weekend is the second most likely time for someone to be involved in a car accident caused by someone operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

DUI arrests surge every year during this three day weekend, most likely because many people see the holiday as their last chance to grab some summer. Regardless of why they do it, Labor Day is a holiday police every where dread.

That might be what has prompted the California Highway Patrol to announce they will be stepping up enforcement all weekend long. On average the CHP issues about 1,500 citations to drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol every Labor Day weekend. This year, they want to convince people to stay out of their car of they party too hard.

CHP officers will be out in force, keeping a close eye on the roads and enforcing the law to keep motorists safe.

The three-day holiday is a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) for the CHP, beginning Friday at 6 p.m. through Monday at 11:59 p.m. Throughout the MEP, all available officers will be on patrol cracking down on impaired drivers, speeders and those who are a danger to themselves and others on the state’s roadways.

During last year’s Labor Day weekend 29 people were killed in traffic collisions across California, which is a 38-percent increase from 2010. Motorists who choose not to wear safety equipment contributed to the drastic increase in casualties.

“It is very disheartening to know that 19 people lost their lives last Labor Day weekend as a result of not wearing their seatbelt,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. “What a tremendous price to pay for something that is entirely preventable.”

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