With the release of the MEP data, the CHP said, "The holidays should be a time of celebration, not tragedy. Let’s continue to prioritize safety and responsibility on the road."

California Highway Patrol officers will ramp up operations in L.A. and Orange counties and statewide tonight through Christmas night to nab drunken and drug-impaired drivers. The CHP’s annual Christmastime “maximum enforcement period” will begin at 6 p.

California Highway Patrol’s maximum enforcement period, or MEP, is continuing through Christmas Day to help deter dangerous driving.