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Heads Up, Turkeys: CHP Planning Thanksgiving Crackdown

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The California Highway Patrol hopes everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday...but warns motorists in the Golden State that the extra-long holiday weekend happens to be a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP).

Between 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 24th, and 11:59 p.m. Sunday November 28th, the CHP will have all available officers on the lookout for motorists who are endangering themselves or other drivers on the road. They aren't just looking for drivers who take the wheel while under the influence of a bit too much holiday libation--the CHP is looking for people speeding and not wearing seat belts, too.

Last Thanksgiving was a deadly one for California's roads, with 37 people killed in collisions over the holiday period. Also in 2009, during the Thanksgiving MEP, CHP officers made 1,461 arrests for driving under the influence.

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