While Mother Nature is expected to bestow beautiful weather on
San Benito County residents for the long holiday weekend, anyone
traversing the highways is cautioned to obey the rules of the road
because police will be out in full force.
Hollister – While Mother Nature is expected to bestow beautiful weather on San Benito County residents for the long holiday weekend, anyone traversing the highways is cautioned to obey the rules of the road because police will be out in full force.
The Hollister/Gilroy office of the California Highway Patrol will have 13 cars out on patrol over the weekend – five more than usual – watching for seat belt scofflaws, drunk drivers and speed demons, said Officer Matt Ramirez.
Officers will focus on stretches of road along highways 156 and 152, which Ramirez expects to see the brunt of much of the holiday traffic, he said.
In particular, officers will be monitoring the area known as the Don Pacheco Y, where Highway 156 meets Highway 152 and heavy traffic routinely bottlenecks, Ramirez said. Ordinarily, drivers on Highway 152 will stop to allow motorists turning off the highway onto Highway 156 – which is illegal and can create a safety hazard, according to the CHP.
“Expect one or two guys directing traffic or writing tickets,” Ramirez said. “We’re going to be busy.”
Ramirez said Memorial Day weekend is one of the worst holiday weekends for the CHP traffic-wise, along with Gilroy’s Garlic Festival weekend. While the CHP won’t be setting up any driving under the influence checkpoints, Ramirez cautioned anyone drinking at a barbecue or anywhere else to stay out of the driver’s seat because police will be specifically watching for impaired drivers.
And while drinking and driving is ostensibly a bad combination, barbecues and the weekend’s weather aren’t, according to the National Weather Service in Monterey.
Although clouds could hang around in the morning on Saturday, by noon and through the weekend into Monday should be nothing but blue skies and sunshine, said forecaster Steve Anderson.
All three days should have a high of 82 degrees and a low of 53, he said.
And if the low-80s are a little too warm, Anderson suggested taking a trip to the coast where the temperature will be decidedly cooler, he said.
“If it’s too hot there, come on out to Monterey, where it will be cloudy and 65,” he said. “We’re starting our summer routine. Sunny and hot inland, cooler on the coast.”
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or em*******@fr***********.com
