State troopers deploy low-profile vehicles to target holiday speeders.
The California Highway Patrol will initiate its maximum enforcement period beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, and running through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 5. Officers will place a heightened focus on speeding violations and impaired driving during the holiday weekend.
The enforcement push follows a deadly holiday period last year. During the 2025 Independence Day crackdown, CHP officers responded to more than 850 speed-related collisions, which resulted in nearly 400 injuries and at least seven fatalities. Officers also arrested 1,311 individuals for driving under the influence, averaging one DUI arrest every 3.5 minutes.
According to the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, speeding causes an average of more than 115,000 collisions and roughly 600 traffic deaths in California annually. Officials warned that excessive speed severely limits driver reaction times and increases both stopping distances and crash severity.
To intercept reckless drivers, the CHP will deploy 100 low-profile, specially marked patrol vehicles designed to blend into highway traffic. Since their introduction last year, officers utilizing these vehicles have issued more than 59,000 speeding citations.
The holiday enforcement also highlights a newer state initiative targeting extreme speeds. Launched in December 2025, the FAST (Forwarded Actions for Speeding Tickets) pilot program automatically forwards cases of drivers clocked at over 100 mph to the Department of Motor Vehicles. The administrative review process bypasses standard court proceedings to fast-track potential license suspensions or revocations.
Data shows the program has quickly penalized high-risk drivers:
3,200+: FAST referrals submitted by the CHP between January and May 2026.
3,000+: DMV license suspensions and re-examination actions triggered by those referrals.
94.3%: Percentage of those DMV sanctions upheld after administrative reviews and hearings.
To ensure public safety over the holiday, the CHP recommends that motorists designate a sober driver, utilize rideshare services, and always wear a seat belt. Witnesses are encouraged to report suspected impaired or dangerous drivers by calling 911.
