chp_logo.jpgRESULTS OF THANKSGIVING MAXIMUM ENFORCEMENT PERIOD Providing safety and assistance throughout the state, California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers engaged in a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) during the Thanksgiving holiday. The MEP began Wednesday, November 27, at 6:00 P.M, and continued through Sunday, December 1, 2013 at 11:59 P.M. “Thanksgiving weekend is one of the busiest travel times of the year,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow, “As the volume of traffic on the roadways increases so does the risk of being involved in a serious or deadly collision.” In addition to enforcing the seat belt law, CHP officers remained vigilant looking for aggressive and impaired drivers.

During the MEP, CHP officers assigned to Bridgeport Area arrested four people suspected of driving while under the influence (DUI), among other charges. Statewide, CHP officers arrested 1,201 during this Thanksgiving holiday, slightly less than the 1,320 people arrested in 2012. This year, there were 33 people killed in collisions during the Thanksgiving holiday in California. This is fewer than the 44 people killed in collisions the previous year, however, those 33 people will not be home for the holiday season. Among the 17 vehicle occupants killed within CHP jurisdiction, 88 percent, or 15 individuals were not wearing a seat belt. These figures show that there is still a need to get the message out to everyone to “buckle up – every trip, every time” and “don’t hesitate to designate a sober driver”.

On November 28,2013, at approximately 5:55 P.M., CHP and Mono County Sheriffs deputies responded to a call of a solo vehicle roll-over traffic collision in Walker, where the involved vehicle fled the scene. Mono County Sheriffs deputies were able to locate the involved party at a nearby residence and notified CHP. Subsequent to an investigation by CHP officers, a 52 year old male resident of Mammoth Lakes was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, hit-and-run, and driving a motor vehicle while his driver license was suspended for prior DUI related offenses; all misdemeanor violations. The subject was also charged with a felony firearms violation as a result of the incident. He was booked into the Mono County Sheriffs Jail in Bridgeport.

On November 28, 2013, at approximately 9:18 P.M., a Mammoth Lakes Police officer stopped a suspected DUI driver in the town of Mammoth Lakes and requested CHP assistance. Following a DUI investigation by a CHP officer, the 55 year old female driver, a Bishop resident, was arrested for misdemeanor DUI. Her valid driver license was seized and she was issued a suspension notice. She was then booked into the Mono County Sheriffs Jail in Bridgeport.

On November 30, 2013, at approximately 8:42 P.M., a Mammoth Lakes Police officer stopped a suspected driver under the influence of alcohol and drugs in the town of Mammoth Lakes and requested CHP assistance. A CHP Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) assigned to Bridgeport Area responded and conducted an investigation. Following the investigation, the 19 year old male driver, a resident of Mammoth Lakes, was arrested for DUI and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, both misdemeanors, The subject was also charged with driving a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content greater than 0.05% by a person under 21 years of age. The subject’s valid driver license was seized and he was issued a suspension notice. He was later booked into the Mono County Sheriffs Jail in Bridgeport. An 18 year old male passenger of the vehicle was cited and released for marijuana possession.

On December 1,2013, at approximately 9:30 P.M., Mono County Sheriffs deputies requested CHP assistance on a traffic stop with a possible driver under the influence of narcotics. A CHP Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) assigned to Bridgeport Area responded and conducted an investigation. The CHP officer arrested the 46 year old male driver, a resident of Oxnard, for driving under the influence of narcotics, and for driving a motor vehicle while his driver license was suspended, both misdemeanors. The subject was also charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia. The subject was then booked into the Mono County Sheriffs Jail in Bridgeport.

“Officers and deputies made twice the number of DUI arrests this Thanksgiving weekend as compared to last year. Impaired driving continues to be an issue requiring diligent attention by everyone in Mono County, and statewide, The probability that at least one of these four drivers would have been involved in a collision is significant, and not worth the risk to themselves or anyone in close proximity to them, I am very proud of the combined, cooperative efforts of Mono County Sheriffs deputies. Mammoth Lakes Police officers and CHP officers in both protecting the public and making sure each of these four individuals have the opportunity to continue celebrating future holidays with those who love them” said Lieutenant R. D. Cohan, Commander of the CHP’s Bridgeport Area.

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