With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
You don't want to have a very CHP Thanksgiving weekend
Los Angeles Sheriff's Department deputies stop a man at a DUI checkpoint in Bellflower. He was later released after passing a breathalyzer test.
(
Stuart Palley/KPCC
)
There's no worse place to spend your Thanksgiving weekend than in jail, so do your fellow Southern Californians a solid and lay off the booze if you plan to drive. You'll also be helping yourself.
The California Highway Patrol is out in force this holiday weekend. All available officers will be on patrol statewide until midnight on Sunday.
Eight people have already died and nearly 180 people have been arrested for driving under the influence during the first 12 hours of the CHP's "maximum enforcement period," which began at 6 p.m. Wednesday and continues through Sunday at midnight.
Holidays tend to generate stress, which can lead to heavy drinking. The "sadness spike" often manifests as sozzled drivers hitting the roads.
Sponsored message
"Unfortunately sometimes we do see a spike around the holidays, whether it's family related or holiday related. We don't know if politics will play into that drinking too much, but hopefully it won't equal to any crashes or arrests," CHP Officer Siara Lund tells KPCC.
Last year, CHP officers arrested more than 1,000 people statewide for DUIs during the Thanksgiving weekend. About a fifth of those arrests were made in L.A. County.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
