Red and blue lights pierced the night on California highways as the New Year approached, with CHP officers pulling over drivers crawling through congestion or hurtling past at over 100 mph. In a tense 30-hour window, the state’s roads turned into a stark arena of risk, yielding 379 DUI arrests, 92 extreme speeders, and six fatal crashes.
Holiday Death Toll
The New Year’s Maximum Enforcement Period, spanning 6 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2025, to 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 1, 2026, logged six fatalities statewide. Officers arrested 379 drivers suspected of impairment and issued 5,458 citations, including 2,972 for speeding. These figures captured a deadly mix of alcohol, high speeds, and holiday travel surges carrying millions on crowded routes. Each incident, CHP noted, altered families forever, justifying the agency’s intense focus.
MEP Origins
California Highway Patrol launched Maximum Enforcement Periods after data showed holiday crash spikes. These operations mobilize every officer for saturation patrols, evolving to counter denser populations, faster cars, and bolder driving. Christmas and New Year’s draw the heaviest deployments, mirroring decades of elevated risks across the state.
Christmas Crackdown
The peril started earlier. In the Christmas 30-hour period, CHP arrested 297 suspected impaired drivers and recorded eight deaths in six crashes. Officers handed out 1,385 speeding tickets, 94 to those exceeding 100 mph. Winter storms slicked roads, amplifying dangers from poor choices amid festive travel.
Statewide Deployment
From remote highways to urban freeways, all CHP divisions activated simultaneously, targeting interstates and high-risk corridors. Wet conditions, traffic jams, and defiant drivers tested patrols despite visible presence. The uniform push across regions hammered home that no stretch of road escaped scrutiny during peak holidays. In total, the New Year’s effort produced 9,308 enforcement actions.
Regulatory Push
Beyond stops, CHP’s FAST program speeds license suspensions for 100-plus mph violators via DMV coordination. New 2026 laws bolster this: AB 289 pilots speed cameras in work zones, AB 1014 tweaks speed limits, AB 382 cuts them near schools, AB 390 widens “move over” rules, and AB 1777 sets autonomous vehicle guidelines. Governor Gavin Newsom’s signatures align these with CHP strategies, extending holiday lessons year-round.
Macro Trends and Future Horizons
Numbers vary by weather and volume, but patterns hold: DUIs range from hundreds to near 900, peaking with California’s 40 million residents flooding roads. New Year’s saw 92 drivers over 100 mph—roughly three hourly—echoing Christmas. CHP uses unmarked cars to snag them, upholding zero tolerance amid debate over long-term deterrence.
Safety advocates back MEPs but question sustained impact against unpredictable behavior and storms. CHP insists steady pressure, paired with education and tech, is vital. As population and vehicle advances accelerate, the agency grapples with scaling enforcement. Holiday data fuels policy, promising safer roads through compliance, infrastructure, and tools like cameras—yet human choices remain the pivotal factor.
Sources:
California Highway Patrol – CHP RINGS IN THE NEW YEAR WITH HOLIDAY ENFORCEMENT PERIOD – December 28, 2025
GV Wire – CHP Reports Six Fatal Crashes, 379 DUI Arrests During New Year’s Enforcement Period – January 5, 2026
Pasadena Now – CHP Launches 30-Hour New Year’s Enforcement After Nearly 300 DUI Arrests During Christmas – December 30, 2025
California Highway Patrol – CHP HIGHLIGHTS PUBLIC SAFETY LAWS TAKING EFFECT IN 2026 – December 25, 2025
Bakersfield Now – CHP: 8 deaths, 2744 cited and 297 arrested for alleged DUI in holiday enforcement period – December 25, 2025
California DMV – Pilot Program Targets Speeders to Make California Highways Safer – December 21, 2025