CHP Doubles Patrols as Millions Hit the Road for Fourth of July Weekend

As millions of Americans head out for Fourth of July celebrations, the California Highway Patrol is stepping up enforcement to help keep holiday travelers safe.

AAA projects more than 61 million people nationwide will travel by car during the Independence Day holiday period, making it one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. In California, that means more traffic, more congestion, and a greater focus on preventing crashes.

The CHP's Maximum Enforcement Period runs from July 2 through July 5, with twice as many officers patrolling highways across the state.

To get a firsthand look at the effort, NBC Palm Springs rode along with CHP Officer David Torres as he monitored traffic during the holiday enforcement period.

According to the CHP, the Fourth of July weekend is consistently one of the deadliest times of the year on California roads. Officers report as many as 70 traffic fatalities during the holiday weekend and investigate hundreds of speed-related crashes.

Speeding and reckless driving remain among the agency's biggest concerns.

Officer Torres demonstrated one of the CHP's primary enforcement tools—a LIDAR speed gun—which can accurately measure a vehicle's speed from up to 2,000 feet away. Within minutes of using the device, Torres identified a speeding driver and conducted a traffic stop, highlighting the type of dangerous driving officers say becomes more common during holiday weekends.

In addition to watching for speeding, CHP officers are also looking for distracted drivers, impaired motorists, and anyone driving recklessly as traffic volumes increase.

The CHP's holiday enforcement period continues through Sunday at 11:59 p.m.

Officials are reminding everyone celebrating the holiday to buckle up, obey speed limits, avoid distractions behind the wheel, and always designate a sober driver before heading out.