Sonora-area CHP DUI crackdown brought heavier patrols this weekend

Sonora-area drivers saw a heavier CHP presence this weekend as the California Highway Patrol ran a statewide Maximum Enforcement Period focused on impaired driving from 6 p.m. Saturday, June 20, to 6 a.m. Sunday, June 21.

The local hook is Tuolumne County: the CHP Sonora Area office covers all Tuolumne County roads, plus a small part of northern Mariposa County and several nearby state routes, so the campaign reached Mother Lode traffic directly.

CHP says the point of the operation is to prevent impaired-driving crashes, injuries, and deaths. Its enforcement programs use patrols, checkpoints, and other targeted enforcement to remove impaired drivers from the road.

For residents and weekend travelers, the practical takeaway is simple: if alcohol or other substances are part of the evening, arrange a sober ride, share the keys, or stay put. The enforcement window is over, but the safety message remains the same for the rest of the summer travel season.

Sources

• California Highway Patrol news release: Statewide DUI enforcement surge ahead of summer weekend
• myMotherLode: Summer traffic surge prompts CHP DUI MEP