SAN DIEGO — The California Highway Patrol arrested 81 motorists for suspicion of drunk driving in San Diego County over the holiday period, officials said Sunday.
While there were no fatalities on county freeways this year, the CHP said 24 people were killed in California during the extended July Fourth holiday weekend, from 6 p.m. Wednesday to 6 a.m. Sunday.
The arrests for suspicion of DUI in the county increased by 47 over last year's holiday period.
Statewide, three motorcycle deaths occurred and three pedestrians were killed in the CHP's jurisdiction.
This year there were 24 driving fatalities in California, as reported by all law enforcement agencies. There were 17 last year.
The 1,204 arrests statewide by CHP officers for suspicion of DUI was up from 389 last year. The CHP only tracks DUI arrests made by its own officers.
