UPDATE: CHP arrests multiple suspected DUI drivers during unofficial pot holiday 4/20
UPDATE 4/23/18: The California Highway Patrol arrested 15 people for suspected DUI throughout the 420 weekend.
According to the CHP, three out of the 15 drivers arrested had a combination of drugs and alcohol in their system.
The CHP stepped up patrols during the unofficial weed holiday to keep people safe on the roadways.
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As those 4/20 celebrations continue throughout the weekend, the California Highway Patrol has been out making sure the roads are safe from drivers under the influence.
Extra CHP patrols were out all day thanks to a distracted driving grant from the Office of Traffic Safety.
Though distracted driving is something they’re always looking out for, stopping drivers under the influence was also a priority.
As many were out celebrating on the so-called “Pot Holiday”, local CHP officers were working overtime.
“We’re expecting you know a lot more of the 420 traffic to be out there as far as people smoking or even combining the marijuana with alcohol,” said Officer Matt Pecchia, with the CHP, “That still has a lot detrimental effects as well.”
As we rode along with CHP officers they took at least one person in on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
“Marijuana, yes it is legal, however we treat it the same way as consuming alcohol and driving, you cannot smoke marijuana and then drive a motor vehicle,” Pecchia said.
They wanted to make sure anyone breaking that law was taken off the roads.
But it’s not just drivers under the influence the CHP is looking out for.
People driving while distracted by their phones could face some serious consequences as well. But Pecchia says it’s not about punishment, but protection.
“The longer you’re on CHP, the more collisions you see, major collisions that could have been avoided if people could have stayed off their cell phone for a little longer.”
And Officer Pecchia has another piece of advice for drivers, even after 4/20.
“Whether it’s using alcohol or smoking, if you choose to do that with the invention of Uber, Lyft, taxis and public transit, we have plenty of systems in place in Monterey County to safely get you home.”
The CHP will release the number of arrests made over the weekend. We will update this article with those numbers when they’re made available.
