Memorial Day Weekend Travel Tips

Law enforcement agencies were out in force on Friday, tracking down impaired and distracted drivers.

It’s the start of Memorial Day weekend, and in the afternoon, traffic along Interstate 10 was busier than usual.

The California Highway Patrol is in a period of maximum enforcement.

All available officers will be monitoring the roads through midnight on Monday.

They are looking for drivers on cell phones, drunk and anyone not wearing a seatbelt.

It didn’t take long to spot trucks and other cars towing other vehicles along the interstate.

Just a reminder, if towing any type of automobile, the speed limit in California is a maximum of 55 mph.

“As soon as you cross the border into Arizona, you can go 75 mph with a trailer,” said Brendan Mahffey, from Temecula.

The trip from Temecula to Mesa, AZ started early for Mahaffey and his two kids.

It’s a long trip, but this is not their first long drive.

Mahaffey’s only advice for drivers is to stay fresh and avoid falling asleep behind the wheel.

“Loud music, roll down the windows, that kind of stuff, and if not, I just pull over and I take a nap.”

Before hitting the road, you should always remember to check your oil and tire pressure, authorities said.

“It’s going to be more affordable to make those long drives,” said officer Joe Zagorski, with the California Highway Patrol. “So, we do expect a lot more traffic.”

Over the last month, the CHP has issued more than 50,000 citations for using a cell phone while driving.

That violation can run a hefty fine.

Not wearing a seatbelt is also against the law, the minimum fine for adults is $142.

“It’s such a simple act of clicking your seatbelt can save so many injuries and lives,” said Zagorski. “So, we always want people to be buckling up.”

And, of course, “no drinking and driving — absolutely not,” said Mahaffey.

Traffic deaths during Memorial Day weekend last year were down 62 percent compared to the previous year, according to the CHP.