DUI arrests made by officials from both the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station and the CHP Newhall office over the holiday weekend totaled 18 across both departments, authorities said.

Beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 22 until 11:59 p.m. Christmas Day, California Highway Patrol (CHP) began their Christmas Max Enforcement Period (MEP) on Santa Clarita-area freeways and unincorporated areas.

“The focus of the MEP is speed limit enforcement, but officers will also be watching for all signs of impaired driving,” said a CHP news release describing the law enforcement bureau’s holiday effort. “During this period, all available officers will be out on the roadways for enhanced enforcement efforts and assisting motorists wherever needed.”

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As a result of this organized effort to increase the number of law enforcement personnel on the road, 15 DUI arrests and a number of impaired driving citations were given out over the three-day holiday period by CHP officials, according to Officer Priessman of the CHP Newhall Office.

In addition, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies made three DUI arrests over the weekend, and conducted multiple traffic stops due to suspected impaired driving, according to officials.

“They checked on many drivers, pulling them over — ones that showed signs of possible impairment, but noted that some drivers stopped and checked were not driving under the influence, which is good,” said Shirley Miller, public information officer for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

While it’s a good thing that a number of traffic stops did not end in arrests due to impairment, Miller noted that even a single DUI booking is an issue.

“Even one (DUI arrest) is too many,” continued Miller. “We are thankful that the drivers that we arrested for DUI were caught before anything happened.”

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Although Christmas weekend has come and gone, law enforcement officials stated they will continue to issue information on the consequences of drunk driving, especially with New Years quickly approaching.

For more updates about Santa Clarita Valley roads on New Years, as well as general information on the consequences of drunk driving, visit the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Facebook page here.

“It just takes one to have deadly consequences and change the lives of families forever,” concluded Miller.

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