CHP Institutes Three-Pronged Crackdown For Holiday Weekend
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - Don't text behind the wheel, don't drive drunk, and buckle up - consider yourself warned this holiday weekend, by the California Highway Patrol.
The law enforcement agency planned to work around the clock to enforce the safety campaign on roadways around the Bay Area and the entire state. There was going to be a zero tolerance policy for safety violations, and the CHP warned that it could be a costly experience if pulled over, too - anywhere from $142 to more than $1,000 depending on the citation.
KCBS' Doug Sovern Reports:
"We've reached, in California, a 96% usage rate for seat belts," declared Chris Cochran with the state Office of Traffic Safety. "Which sounds pretty good and actually is pretty good but because California is so big that still means there are over 1 million people out there who are not regularly buckling up."
He added that the number of people texting while driving was dangerously high - an estimated 10% of drivers.
He was convinced that zero tolerance campaigns have paid off in the past, and he had the evidence to prove it.
"We've been seeing the number of DUI crashes and fatalities going down for the last 5 years."
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