Sonora, CA – The CHP will be out in force this Labor Day weekend, targeting drunk drivers during this Holiday Enforcement Period (HEP), and the San Andreas CHP is also running a sobriety checkpoint.
It begins tonight, Friday, September 4th at 6 pm and runs until Monday, September 7th at 11:59 pm. Sonora CHP relayed, “During this time, all available officers will be working and will have a high emphasis on DUI drivers. However, all vehicle code violations will be strictly enforced.”
During the same 78-hour reporting period last year, nearly 500 DUI-related crashes occurred statewide, resulting in more than 270 injuries and eight deaths, according to preliminary data from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System. This year’s HEP coincides with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, which runs Aug. 19 through Sept. 7, 2026.
“There is no excuse for driving impaired. If you choose to drink or use a substance that affects your ability to drive, make a plan and stay out of the driver’s seat. Your decision could be the difference between everyone getting home safely and a tragedy that can change lives forever,” stated CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee.
The San Andreas CHP is taking it one step farther with a sobriety/driver license checkpoint occurring tomorrow, Saturday, September 5, 2026. It is being held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Murphys Area, with the exact location to be announced at 5 p.m. that day.
The CHP reminds drivers, “If you are going to drink, don’t drive. Designate a sober driver or find another safe way home.”
