During the Labor Day long weekend holiday in the United States, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and local law enforcement will be setting up a series of DUI checkpoints to crack down on impaired driving behaviors such as drunk driving, drug driving, and driving under the influence.
CHP stated that this holiday enforcement operation will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday (the 4th) and will continue until 11:59 p.m. on Monday (the 7th). During this period, officers statewide will be focusing on apprehending drivers who are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
“You cannot drive under the influence under any circumstances,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “If you choose to drink or take drugs that impair your ability to drive, please make arrangements beforehand and do not get behind the wheel.”
According to the agency’s statistics, during the Labor Day enforcement period in 2025, CHP officers arrested over 1,200 individuals for DUI or drug-related offenses. Preliminary data from the CHP’s “Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System” showed that within the same 78-hour period, there were nearly 500 alcohol- or drug-related crashes statewide, resulting in over 270 injuries and 8 fatalities.
CHP is reminding everyone that impaired driving does not just refer to alcohol; marijuana, prescription drugs, illegal substances, and certain over-the-counter medications can all impair a driver’s ability to safely operate a vehicle. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can lead to the suspension of a driver’s license, loss of freedom, or even loss of life, including the lives of others.
In addition to CHP, law enforcement agencies throughout California will be stepping up enforcement during the holiday period. For example, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles Police Department will be setting up DUI checkpoints in various areas. For instance, the Rosemead substation of the LA County Sheriff’s Department will establish a DUI checkpoint in the city from 6 p.m. on Friday until 2 a.m. the next day.
The Bell Police Department also announced that they will be conducting random DUI checkpoints in the city from 7 p.m. on Friday until 3 a.m. the following day.
Authorities are emphasizing that even though medical and recreational marijuana is legal locally, driving under the influence of marijuana remains illegal. Drivers facing their first DUI/drug driving charge may incur an average fine of $13,500 and related penalties, and they could potentially have their licenses suspended.