It's been a rough year for East Bay residents. With some of the toughest COVID-19 stay-at-home orders in the country, residents are ready to let loose a little bit to spend time with friends and family over the Labor Day weekend. Before going too wild over the 3-day weekend, it is important to know that the local police and sheriffs will be on patrol, looking for drivers who may be impaired. 

Labor Day 2020 in California

Labor Day is a federal holiday, celebrated on the first Monday in September, to recognize the contributions of laborers in the U.S. Most people see it as a 3-day weekend and the last break before summer ends. While we won't see parades or street parties, many people will still plan on getting together in parks or backyards to barbecue, have a few drinks, and spend time with friends. 

While this Labor Day is different from others, where masks are required in public and large gatherings are still prohibited in most of California, one thing that has not changed is the stepped up Contra Costa DUI patrols during the Labor Day enforcement period. As part of law enforcement's end-of-summer DUI enforcement campaign, there will be officers watching for impaired drivers.

Labor Day DUI Statistics

Last year, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said more than 1,000 people were arrested for DUIs over the Labor Day weekend. Over the same weekend, 45 people were killed on California roadways. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over the Labor Day holiday between 2010 to 2014, over 750 people died in drunk driving accidents. The majority of drunk driving traffic fatalities over the weekend occurred between the evening and early morning hours, 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Checkpoints in the East Bay Looking for Drunk or High Drivers

Drivers who are out at night over the 3-day weekend may also see additional DUI checkpoints. If you plan to go out drinking, plan ahead to get a safe ride home. If you can, use public transportation, call a Lyft or Uber, or designate a sober driver to get home without getting arrested. 

The weather should be pleasant in the East Bay on Labor Day and drinking outside during the day can make it difficult to estimate your level of sobriety. The sun and warm weather can make people dehydrated, increasing the effects of alcohol. Individuals may also feel tired after a day of drinking, which can increase the risk of dangerous driving or make a driver appear to be more intoxicated than their blood alcohol level indicates. 

If You End Up Under Arrest After a DUI This Weekend

If you end up under arrest for drunk driving this Labor Day weekend, you need to act quickly to preserve your rights. There is only a limited amount of time to challenge your license suspension to keep you right to drive. For drivers in the East Bay, contact your local DUI lawyer for help. With over 36 years of experience, Lynn Gorelick understands the law and science around DUI arrests and will use her experience to fight for you.