SACRAMENTO – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) will launch a statewide Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) this weekend, focusing on one of the most dangerous behaviors on California roadways—speeding. Officers will be on the roads starting at 6 a.m. on Saturday, June 7, and will continue their enforcement efforts until 5:59 a.m. on Sunday, June 8.
As part of the speed prevention campaign, CHP officers will increase patrols and concentrate on drivers who endanger lives by exceeding speed limits or driving too fast for conditions. The MEP aims to save lives by lowering unsafe speeds, a significant factor in nearly 30% of all crashes statewide.
“Speeding puts everyone on the road at risk,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “Every additional mile per hour over the limit reduces a driver’s ability to react and increases the severity of a crash. Slowing down saves lives, it’s that simple.”
Last year, according to preliminary data from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, more than 116,000 crashes were the direct result of unsafe speed. Those crashes resulted in nearly 500 victims killed and over 48,000 people injured.
So far this year, CHP officers issued nearly 243,000 citations for speed-related violations, including:
- More than 47,000 citations for speeds over 100 mph
- Nearly 183,000 citations for speeds exceeding 65 mph
- Over 12,000 for driving too fast for the current road or weather conditions
These numbers underscore the prevalence of dangerous speeding and underscore why the CHP continues to prioritize speed enforcement.
Last month, the CHP deployed 100 low-profile, specially marked patrol vehicles (SMPVs) across the state to help combat reckless and aggressive drivers who are putting lives at risk on California’s highways. These vehicles are designed to blend into traffic and detect these dangerous motorists before they realize they are being monitored. Officers operating this new generation of SMPVs have issued over 2,700 speeding citations to date.
By increasing patrol visibility with speed prevention campaigns and deploying new enforcement tools, the CHP is sending a clear message: Speeding will not be tolerated. Drivers who choose to ignore posted speed limits face real consequences— citations, crashes and lives lost.
The CHP reminds drivers that while making safe choices behind the wheel is especially important this weekend, it is a responsibility that matters every day. Obey the speed limit, drive responsibly and help keep California’s roads safe for everyone.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.