$36 million in state funds will be used for acquisition and clean-up
By Jen Vanya Public Information Specialist, East Bay Regional Park District
The East Bay Regional Park District is poised to acquire the 80-acre Point Molate property located on the Point San Pablo Peninsula in the City of Richmond. The acquisition will ensure that this historic land will be preserved forever as open space and will add it to the Park District’s portfolio. The acquisition supports the Park District’s mission of habitat preservation and providing recreation and public access for all.
Today, Friday, July 12, 2024, the City of Richmond (City) held a Special Council meeting to consider approval of a Letter of Intent (LOI), a three-party agreement between the City, East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD), and the Guidiville Rancheria of California.
“This step is worthy of heralding and there are many partners to thank who have backed our goal to make this an East Bay Regional Park,” said Park District General Manager Sabrina Landreth. “This Letter of Intent is a major step in the process to secure Point Molate as public open space for the community for decades to come.”
The LOI will be before the EBRPD Board of Directors for approval at its regular board meeting on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. This LOI is a precursor to the Purchase and Sale Agreement which will transfer the property into the hands of the Park District no later than January 15, 2025. The LOI includes a purchase price of $40 million, supported by an independent appraised valuation. Additional details can be found in the Board’s meeting agenda. (See Item III B.)
“This important step toward creating a regional park at Point Molate will preserve stunning bay front land with a rich cultural history for all to enjoy,” said Park District Board President Elizabeth Echols. “It promotes our shared goal of creating equitable access to parks and recreation. I thank the many partners, elected leaders, and community members who have long shared our vision for a regional park at Point Molate.”
Combined with the extension of the San Francisco Bay Trail already scheduled for construction along this shoreline, this historic land is now on track toward public ownership and to provide the type of open, outdoor space the community has come to expect from the Park District.
“Point Molate has been called ‘the most beautiful part of San Francisco Bay no one’s ever heard of,’” said Richmond Councilmember Gayle McLaughlin. “We are now at the point where everyone will come to know Richmond as home to an amazing world-class park at Point Molate.”
The Park District’s 2013 Master Plan and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission’s San Francisco Bay Plan both have called for a regional park at Point Molate. It has been a long-standing vision to have a regional park for all of Richmond and Bay Area residents and to ensure the East Bay shoreline is preserved as open space for all to enjoy. Few opportunities remain to create significant parkland in the Bay Area, especially in the Richmond region.
Point Molate is located on the San Pablo Peninsula within the City of Richmond, in Contra Costa County. The San Francisco Bay lies to the west, open space parcels to the north and south, and the Chevron Richmond refinery to the east.
Underscoring the support this acquisition has received over the years, State Senator Nancy Skinner championed $36 million in the 2022-23 California budget for acquisition and clean-up of Point Molate.
“This is truly a great day for the East Bay and all of California,” Senator Skinner said. “I am thrilled that Point Molate’s 80 acres will now and forever be preserved as parkland and open space. The acquisition of Point Molate, with its breathtaking views along San Francisco Bay, continues the East Bay’s decades-long mission to protect our bay shoreline. Securing Point Molate within the East Bay Regional Park District is not only an incredible environmental victory, it will also reawaken the area’s significant cultural history, which includes Native sacred sites, a historic Chinese fishing camp, a historic wine port and America’s last whaling station. I was proud to lead the state budget effort to help in the purchase of this property and thank the Guidiville Rancheria of California, the City of Richmond, and the East Bay Regional Park District for their role in securing Point Molate for all to enjoy.”
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Looking west from the proposed SF Bay Trail alignment and just south of Point Molate Beach Park. Photo: EBRPD
The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee administers the Code of Honor to the 102 new officers on Friday morning, July 12, 2024. Photo: CHP
After completing 1,200 hours of intensive training over 26 weeks
By Tami Grimes, PIO, CHP
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) proudly introduced 102 of the state’s newest officers during a swearing-in ceremony today at the CHP Academy in West Sacramento. In a continued effort to fill vacant officer positions, these men and women hail from communities throughout California, as well as Colorado and Oregon.
“Having successfully completed the last 26 weeks of intensive training, the CHP is pleased to welcome these new officers to the CHP family. They are beginning a career of service and I trust they will do everything they can to take care of their communities,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “Every corner of the State deserves to have the best trained and prepared personnel, and I am confident these new officers will be able to provide the highest level of safety, service, and security possible.”
Before offering his prepared remarks, Duryee said to the audience of the new officers’ family members and friends, “Alright, listen. I was a little disappointed to that approach. Not from the cadets, from the crowd. You all gotta get a little fired up. This is a celebration.”
“I don’t know what they’ve told you how this place is,” he continued with a smile. “But this is a celebration, today. So, as we celebrate them let’s get a little rowdy. Yeah?” to which the audience applauded and cheered in response.
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CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee inspects the cadets before the ceremony on Friday, July 12, 2024. Photo: CHP
While at the CHP Academy, cadets receive over 1,200 hours of training and start with subjects including nobility in policing, leadership, professionalism and ethics, and cultural diversity. Additionally, cadets receive instruction on mental illness response and crisis intervention techniques. Training also covers vehicle patrol, crash investigation, first aid, and the apprehension of suspected violators, including those who drive under the influence. Cadets also receive training in traffic control, report writing, recovery of stolen vehicles, assisting the motoring public, issuing citations, emergency scene management, and various codes, including the California Vehicle Code, Penal Code, and Health and Safety Code.
The Code of Honor was administered by Duryee and repeated by the cadets as follows: “I, a member of the California Highway Patrol, subscribe in word and deed to the following; To serve the United States of America and the State of California honestly, and conscientiously; and fulfill my oath as a soldier of the law; to uphold and maintain the honor and integrity of the California Highway Patrol; Be loyal to my fellow officers; respect and obey my seniors in rank; and enforce the law without fear, favor or discrimination; to assist those in peril or distress and if necessary lay down my life rather than swerve from the path of duty; my person conduct shall at all times be above reproach; and I will never knowingly commit any act that will in any way bring discredit upon the California Highway Patrol or any member thereof; to all of this I do solemnly pledge my sacred honor as an officer with the California Highway Patrol.”
Today’s graduation concludes the new officers’ stay at the Academy prior to their reporting to one of the 102 CHP Area offices throughout the state on July 22. (View ceremony video)
The CHP continues the search for service-minded individuals who are interested in a career in law enforcement in support of its ongoing, multiyear recruitment campaign to hire 1,000 officers. In 2023, the CHP added 407 officers to its ranks. With today’s swearing-in, an additional 409 officers have been sworn in this year and there are still two more cadet classes scheduled to complete the Academy before the end of 2024.
For more information about a life-changing career with the CHP, visit our website and register for our online hiring seminar at 6:30 p.m. on July 17.
The mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Read MoreCampaign raises $6.5 million to acquire two properties and add to vital Wildlife and Trail Corridor in Contra Costa County
By Jay Dean, John Muir Land Trust
John Muir Land Trust (JMLT, jmlt.org) announces the successful completion of fundraising for the Campaign to Expand Franklin Ridge. Receiving donations from thousands of supporters across the region, JMLT raised the $6.5 million needed to acquire and permanently protect 100-acre Kenneth Gerlack Preserve and 134-acre Barnett Ranch. These pristine acres will be added to the Franklin Ridge Wildlife and Trail Corridor, a beautiful natural landscape southwest of downtown Martinez that is a vital refuge for native wildlife and a treasured recreational haven for outdoor enthusiasts. In an era of global climate change, the preservation of intact natural corridors is more crucial than ever, and this campaign protects one of the most important in the East Bay.
“JMLT has been piecing together the Franklin Ridge Wildlife and Trail Corridor for 35 years,” says Linus Eukel, Executive Director of John Muir Land Trust. “The importance of adding these two new properties cannot be overstated. Along these stunning ridgelines is a nexus for some of our most important regional trails, including the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It is home to over 20 local species, including vital predators such as mountain lions, and endangered and threatened species such as the iconic California red-legged frog. Here it is possible to walk in the footsteps of famed naturalist John Muir himself, who lived nearby and hiked and wrote about its delightful ravines, hilltops, plateaus, open grasslands, and stunning panoramic views.”
Funding came from many sources, most importantly from thousands of local residents who contribute regularly to support JMLT’s conservation work in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Donations were received in amounts large and small. Two anonymous donors contributed an extraordinarily generous $500,000 each. A challenge match from David and Janice Hammond of Alamo generated $300,000. JMLT received $1,230,000 from the State Coastal Conservancy, an agency charged with protecting and restoring California’s most important natural and scenic resources. California’s Wildlife Conservation Board made a grant of $2,000,000.
“The Wildlife Conservation Board allocates funds throughout the state of California for the purchase of land and waters ideal for recreation purposes, and for the preservation and restoration of vital habitat for native species,” says Dr. Jennifer Norris, Executive Director, WCB. “Supporting the expansion of a landscape as important as Franklin Ridge is at the very core of our mission.”
“The California State Coastal Conservancy makes grants to improve our natural lands and waterways so that more people can access and enjoy the outdoors,” says Amy Hutzel, Executive Officer, Coastal Conservancy. “The opportunity for expanding, connecting, and completing trails of such regional and historic importance as those atop Franklin Ridge is a gift to Californians today and for those in generations to come. This is a win for everyone.”
For the landowners whose cherished lands are now preserved for perpetuity, this is a moment long awaited. “There is so much at the top of the ridge to see and experience all of God’s creation. My children and their children will be immensely proud to visit. We’re preserving it for them and for everyone in the public at large,” says Carolyn Barnett. Gay Gerlack adds, “As our lives changed and our children grew up, we always maintained a reverence for the property and the land. Once it’s gone, you can’t get it back. My late husband Kenneth and I dreamed about this wonderful outcome.”
Eukel stresses that it took many to achieve this milestone. “We are so grateful to the donors, volunteers, and to all of JMLT’s generous and passionate community of supporters who came together to secure this important win in local conservation. It is ordinary people with extraordinary vision who make such achievements possible.”
Those seeking to visit Franklin Ridge will find information and a trail map at jmlt.org.
About John Muir Land Trust
John Muir Land Trust (JMLT) protects and cares for open space, ranches, farms, parkland and shoreline in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. John Muir Land Trust has become one of the leading forces for conservation in northern California. With thousands of acres protected over 35 years, many beautiful places in the East Bay are now permanently preserved for recreation, wildlife habitat, and spectacular scenic views. JMLT believes that the vitality of our open spaces is essential to the health of our earth, air, water, native plants and animals — and all of us. jmlt.org
Read MoreCASE UPDATE
By Brentwood Police Department
You may recall that on October 11, 2023, Brentwood officers responded to the Brentwood City Park for a juvenile armed with a kitchen knife. As officers arrived on scene, they contacted the 16-year-old juvenile. After numerous attempts to de-escalate the situation, the juvenile stabbed a Brentwood officer who was attempting to take the juvenile into custody.
The officer, who sustained life-threatening injuries, was transported to a local hospital we were relieved and grateful the officer survived. (See related article)
The juvenile, who cannot be named due to his age, was arrested and transported to Juvenile Hall and has been in custody ever since.
On July 3, 2024, members of the Brentwood Police Department and the victim (officer) attended the hearing for this case. The case was adjudicated and resulted in the juvenile being sentenced to a maximum six-year sentence which was the maximum sentence allowed by law.
This incident had a profound impact on not only our officer and his family, but also on the Department and our community. The involved officer is still recovering from his injuries but wishes to express his sincere appreciation to the community for your support.
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Residents tour the Richmond wastewater treatment plant during the open house on Thursday, July 11, 2024. Photos: Veolia
Open house provides community with behind-the-scenes look at significant infrastructure improvements for better air, water quality
Three-year construction project brings substantial improvements to wastewater treatment and odor control systems at Richmond Water Pollution Control Plant
Veolia North America, the leading provider of environmental solutions in the U.S. and Canada, on Thursday, July 11, 2024, unveiled to the public $40 million worth of major upgrades to the Richmond Water Pollution Control Plant. The investment will improve wastewater treatment, environmental compliance and odor control for Richmond and nearby communities on the San Francisco Bay.
Local community leaders and neighbors attended an open house at the plant to see the results of the work and to learn how this infrastructure investment will improve their surroundings. It provided a rare opportunity for an in-depth, guided tour of the major capital improvement.
Richmond’s Water Pollution Control Plant is located at 601 Canal Blvd. in Richmond, California on the southwest side of the city.
Veolia has operated the plant for more than two decades, and the construction project marks a significant step forward in modernizing the plant’s ability to effectively treat the city’s wastewater and protect its environment. Veolia welcomed local community leaders and neighbors to the plant for an open house today to see the results of this work and to learn how this infrastructure investment will improve their surroundings.
“Veolia is proud to be a key partner to the city of Richmond as it continually improves its infrastructure and its resiliency for the future,” said Karine Rougé, CEO for Municipal Water at Veolia North America, who attended the open house. “These vital improvements will make a significant impact in how the wastewater treatment plant functions in the community, by improving the quality of treated water released into San Francisco Bay, delivering more efficient operations to the city, and better controlling the odors produced by the wastewater treatment process.”
The wastewater system improvements are expected to provide additional environmental and financial benefits to Richmond, as more efficient equipment will require less energy and lower levels of chemical treatment to operate, reducing the city’s costs as well as its greenhouse gas emissions. These achievements exemplify the goals of Veolia’s global GreenUp strategy, which strives to lead the ecological transformation of the planet by accelerating water quality improvement, decarbonization and technological innovation. Some 61% of Americans are concerned that worsening climate conditions may result in a deterioration of their quality of life, according to Veolia’s Barometer of Ecological Transformation survey, and projects which respond to ecological threats while also addressing infrastructure needs help build long-term solutions for the environment and public health.
The Richmond Water Pollution Control Plant construction project replaced outdated or ineffective equipment used in major functions at the plant:
- Fine screens – Two new mechanical fine screens were installed to filter out trash, rags and other larger debris from the wastewater stream. This prevents that material from clogging pipes and pumps, and potentially polluting the San Francisco Bay.
- Vortex grit removal system – Grit and sand settles at the bottom of wastewater treatment tanks, where it can cause wear and tear on machinery. The new grit removal system allows those fine materials to be easily separated from wastewater.
- Biofilter – Gases released by the wastewater treatment process are captured and forced through a new filtration system. Many layers of porous materials in the biofilter promote the growth of specialized microorganisms that break down the odor-causing compounds.
- Blower building – a new structure holds powerful mechanical turbo blowers, which ingest outside air that is diffused into wastewater to promote the treatment process.
- Aeration basins – a new system in the bottom of wastewater treatment tanks diffuses air into the water as fine bubbles, rather than the previous mechanical mixing system. These fine bubble diffusers are more consistent, efficient and resilient than the prior system.
The completion of this construction project marks another milestone for Veolia’s partnership with Richmond, in which Veolia is responsible for operating and maintaining the city’s wastewater treatment plant, sewer system and stormwater collection system. Since the partnership began in 2002, the city’s environmental performance has improved significantly.
About Veolia North America
A subsidiary of Veolia Group, Veolia North America (VNA) offers a full spectrum of water, waste and energy management services, including water and wastewater treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and disposal, energy consulting and resource recovery. VNA helps commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education and municipality customers throughout North America. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., Veolia North America has more than 10,000 employees working at more than 350 locations across the continent. www.veolianorthamerica.com
About Veolia Group
Veolia’s ambition is to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. With nearly 218,000 employees on five continents, the Group designs and deploys useful, practical solutions for managing water, waste and energy that help to radically change the world. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia contributes to developing access to resources, preserving available resources and renewing them. In 2023, the Veolia group served 113 million people with drinking water and 103 million with wastewater services, produced 42 terawatt-hours of energy and recovered 63 million metric tons of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE) generated consolidated sales of €45.3 billion in 2023. www.veolia.com
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The grand opening of the new Contra Costa County Administration Building and Plaza was held on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. Photos: Contra Costa County
A new government facility to better fit its environment
Includes new plaza, public law library
By Kristi Jourdan, PIO, Contra Costa County
County and city officials celebrated the grand opening of Contra Costa County’s new Administration Building Tuesday morning, July 9, 2024. Located on Pine Street in the heart of downtown Martinez, the three-story cutting-edge office administration building and civic plaza was unveiled on the historic grounds previously occupied by a taller, outdated office tower and a jail dating back to around 1902. Both were demolished to make way for the modern development including the County’s other new administration building across Escobar Street that houses the Board of Supervisors’ Chambers.
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Members of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and the Martinez City Council, county staff and representatives of both Webcor Builders and design firm Perkins & Will gathered for the building’s grand opening.
Speakers included Board Chair and District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover, District 1 Supervisor John Gioia, District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen, District 3 Supervisor Diane Burgis and District 4 Supervisor Ken Carlson, Chief Assistant County Administrator Eric Angstadt and Martinez Mayor Brianne Zorn, and representatives of design firm Perkins & Will and Webcor Builders.
The new $65 million building replaced a programmatically obsolete and contextually out of scale office tower and showcases state-of-the-art architecture that harmonizes beautifully with the surrounding historic buildings. It also rejuvenates the public plaza formed by the vacation of a city street within the County administration campus. It embodies sustainability with on-site photovoltaics for high-performance energy use, responsibly sourced finishes, and low embodied carbon materials.
The development significantly enhances community space by adding a new public law library, ground-floor retail spaces, and a parking garage. The plaza also includes street improvements and an advanced stormwater system tailored to the site’s unique groundwater challenges and topography. Internally, the building acts as a hub for several County administrative departments, including the Public Defender, County Sheriff’s Civil Division and the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice, consolidating essential services under one roof to improve service delivery and enhance community interaction.
The new building marks a significant contribution to Contra Costa County, where modernity meets tradition and community service meets innovation.
Alexandra Pony of Pony Communications and Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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Con Fire’s first major fire of July 4, 2024, was on Leland Drive in Pittsburg and the last major fire was that night in Antioch on the hill behind the shopping center off Hillcrest Avenue and Larkspur Drive. Area burned on the Hillcrest Avenue side of the hill. Top left photo and aerial shot by Con Fire. Bottom left photo by Allen D. Payton.
Including 3 traumatic injuries caused by fireworks; Antioch had most fire-related calls followed by Pittsburg
By Allen D. Payton
According to a report by the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire), they responded to a total of 317 incidents from 10:00 AM on July 4, 2024, to 3:00 AM on July 5th. That’s an increase of 30% over the 243 incidents Con Fire responded to last year. They included three traumatic injuries caused by fireworks.
Of this year’s incidents, 129 were fire-related including 92 exterior fires, 16 vegetation fires, 13 structure fires and eight other types of fires. All four categories experienced increases over 2023 with more than double for exterior fires.
Antioch had the most fire-related calls with about 45 total, followed by 20 for Pittsburg and 10 for Bay Point. All other cities and unincorporated communities in the Con Fire service area had fewer than 10 fire-related incidents.
Calls for significant fires began Thursday at 10:30 AM with a vegetation fire on Leland Road in Pittsburg confirmed to have been started by fireworks at consumed 10 acres. The last significant incident was another vegetation fire that started about 10:30 PM in Antioch on the hill off Hillcrest Avenue behind the Hillcrest Crossings Shopping Center between where KFC and the County Market Asian grocery store are located. It caused the evacuation of six homes.
According to Con Fire PIO, Captain Christopher Toler, a care home on Lotus Court was first evacuated, then fire personnel decided to evacuate all six homes closest to the fire. Structure protection was in place and the fire stopped at the fence lines at both the top and bottom of the hill.
See videos of the Antioch fire here, here, here and here.
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The suspect was found with stolen credit cards and driver’s license, a fraudulent check, mailbox keys and a To-Do list inside a stolen car from Antioch on Monday, July 8, 2024. Photos: Hercules PD
Found with stolen credit cards & driver’s license, fraudulent check, To-Do list
By Hercules Police Department
Halfway through the year—how are those New Year’s resolutions holding up? This guy’s definitely been busy…
An officer spotted a Honda Civic with no front plate and a temporary rear plate backing into a Safeway parking spot. The driver quickly exited and walked inside. A records check on the plate and VIN revealed it was a stolen vehicle out of Antioch. Officers apprehended the driver inside Safeway without incident.
A search of the driver (male out of Oakland) was conducted and revealed several stolen credit cards, a stolen driver’s license, mailbox keys, a fraudulent check, and a to-do list in his pocket: 1. Laundry 2. Talk to kids 3. Get some money 4. “Boost.”
Guess he’s keeping up with his goals… sort of.
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Rep. John Garamendi announces his cancer diagnosis in a video on his X feed on Monday, July 8, 2024. and his official photo.
Represents northern waterfront and western Contra Costa communities
By Office of Representative John Garamendi
WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08) on Monday, July 8, 2024, released the following statement about his diagnosis of early stage, treatable blood cancer:
“My wife Patti, a leader in the Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program, ensures I stay vigilant about preventative screenings and care. Freezing abnormal bumps is standard, but a call from my doctor changed everything: “When will you be back in California? You need to come in for a series of tests.” Thus began my journey with early-stage Multiple Myeloma, a form of treatable blood cancer.
“Today, I started my path to remission with chemo-immunotherapy as an outpatient at Kaiser Oncology in Sacramento. With early detection, excellent doctors, and the love and support of Patti, our entire family, my extraordinary staff, and congressional colleagues, I know I’ll get through this while continuing to serve my constituents and advance American democracy. I’m grateful our President initiated the Cancer Moonshot and that California’s efforts in stem cell research and taxing cigarettes in the 1980s for cancer research have advanced therapies benefiting not only me, but every family dealing with cancer.
“Throughout my treatments, which my doctor expects will last a few months, I will continue working on my long list of projects and goals for my constituents in Contra Costa and Solano counties. However, alongside destroying cancer cells, chemotherapy weakens natural antibodies and the immune system. My doctors have cautioned me to minimize exposure to COVID-19, flu, and other viruses, so I will limit travel to Washington and public events during the treatment process.
“My thoughts and support are with families managing cancer or any health condition, and with the doctors, nurses, and medical personnel who offer comfort and hope. I am confident that the treatments will be effective, allowing me to continue serving impacted families and my constituents in Congress for years to come.”
In a video post on his X (formerly Twitter) feed on Monday, Garamendi read his statement and wrote, “Like 1.9 million Americans each year, I recently received the dreaded call from my doctor informing me that I had cancer. I am thankful to have caught this early, and we are confident that I will soon be in remission.”
The 79-year-old Garamendi represents the northern waterfront and western communities of Contra Costa County including the northern portion of Antioch in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Read MoreOver 1,300 DUI-related during Maximum Enforcement Period
By Synthia Ramirez, CHP Media Relations
During the Independence Day weekend, the California Highway Patrol conducted a Maximum Enforcement Period to ensure the safety of all Californians. The statewide statistics from this effort are as follows:
- Over 1,600 arrests, with over 1,300 being DUI-related
- Nearly 30,000 citations issued, including over 17,000 for excessive speed
- Over 600 citations for drivers exceeding 100 miles per hour
- Nearly 1,000 seatbelt violations cited
- Over 1,900 distracted driving citations issued
Great job to all CHP areas that worked tirelessly to keep California safe this Independence Day weekend. Even when it’s not a Maximum Enforcement Period, let’s continue to work together to make responsible choices: drive sober, avoid distractions, follow speed limits, and always buckle up. The primary mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
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