The California Highway Patrol is urging Californians hitting the roads this Memorial Day weekend to “practice restraint,” as officers will be focusing on seatbelt violations during an extra enforcement campaign.
The holiday enforcement period will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, May 22, and continue through 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 25, according to the CHP.
“During this period, CHP officers will conduct targeted enforcement to identify reckless drivers and emphasize proper seat belt use for drivers and passengers,” the agency said in a written statement.
While U.S. seat belt usage remains above 90%, “data shows that not wearing a seat belt continues to contribute to preventable deaths on California’s roads,” the statement said.
Last year’s 78-hour Memorial Day weekend holiday enforcement period saw 21 traffic deaths in CHP jurisdictions, officials said. Nine of the victims were not wearing seat belts.
Officers also made more than 1,100 DUI arrests during the 2025 Memorial Day weekend crackdown.
CHP Commission Sean Duryee said wearing a seat belt “remains one of the simplest and most effective ways to save lives.”
“Crashes are unpredictable, and taking a moment to buckle up before every trip can mean the difference between life and death,” he said.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: CHP to focus on seat belts during Memorial Day weekend enforcement
Reporting by Brian Day, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
