Law enforcement personnel throughout San Diego County are out in force this Memorial Day weekend looking for impaired drivers and other traffic violations.
“From Friday, May 22 through Monday, May 25, sheriff’s deputies will be conducting increased patrols looking for impaired drivers. If you are caught driving impaired, you will go to jail,” the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said. “Driving under the influence doesn’t just mean alcohol. It also means driving under the influence of prescription drugs or marijuana.”
The California Highway Patrol launched a statewide weekend enforcement campaign Friday focused on seat belt use, reckless driving and impaired driving amid expected heavy holiday travel across California. The CHP’s Holiday Enforcement Period will run through 11:59 p.m. Monday, with officers conducting targeted patrols on highways and local roads statewide.
“Wearing a seat belt remains one of the simplest and most effective ways to save lives,” CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said in a statement. “Crashes are unpredictable, and taking a moment to buckle up before every trip can mean the difference between life and death.”
According to the CHP, preliminary 2024 and 2025 data show more than 13,000 crashes statewide involved an unrestrained occupant, resulting in more than 1,300 fatalities.
During last year’s Memorial Day enforcement period, CHP officers investigated 22 fatal crashes in the agency’s jurisdiction. Of the 21 vehicle occupants killed, nine were not wearing seat belts, according to the CHP.
The CHP said officers also made more than 1,100 DUI arrests during last year’s Memorial Day enforcement effort.
Officials also reminded drivers about California’s child passenger safety laws and urged parents to ensure children are secured in the proper car seat or booster seat.
SDSO deputies will also be looking for drivers and passengers who are not wearing a seat belt, including vehicles where children are not secured in child safety seats. Law enforcement agencies across the nation are taking part in the “Click It or Ticket” seat belt mobilization campaign through May 31.
California has a primary seat belt law, which allows law enforcement officers to ticket someone for not wearing a seat belt without committing another traffic violation, according to the SDSO.
Sheriff’s deputies say an impaired driving arrest and conviction can cost more than $15,000 in legal and court fees.
The San Diego Police Department has increased its presence at local beaches for the holiday weekend, including Pacific Beach, Mission Beach and Ocean Beach, a department official told City News Service.
Funding for the impaired driving/seat belt patrols is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
