COUNTYWIDE : CHP Arrests 14 in Sobriety Crackdown

The California Highway Patrol snagged 14 alleged drunk drivers in Ventura County by 7 p.m. Saturday in a period of “maximum enforcement” intended to minimize traffic accidents on Labor Day weekend, traditionally one of the deadliest holidays on the roads.

Between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday, up to 60 CHP officers were patrolling the highways, including several who were stationed at a sobriety checkpoint set up in Ojai.

Countywide, CHP officers arrested 15 drivers by 9:30 p.m. Saturday, and two more by 7 p.m., on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or both, according to information from the CHP.

“It’s been more like your average summer weekend,” CHP Sgt. Matt DeMarco said of the number of arrests, lower than usual for the holiday. “We’ve had weekends like this in the middle of the summer when people were celebrating anything but the weekend.”