WATSONVILLE — At the start of every shift, California Highway Patrol officer Julieta Trenado does what she calls a “beat sweep.” Driving the entirety of her assigned region, Trenado attempts to assess how things are looking that day.
“It helps to get an idea of what to expect,” she said, “an overview, of sorts.”
Trenado and fellow CHP officers are on high alert leading into the upcoming week, as summer travel starts up and Fourth of July approaches. The agency is reminding all drivers to put safety first as more cars than usual are traveling Santa Cruz County’s roads.
Heavy traffic in particular can be a hazard, Trenado said. When people are constantly in stop-and-go conditions, its easy to misjudge distance and run into the vehicle ahead of you.
“Being stuck in a car like that for so long, it’s easy to get distracted,” she said, “especially by things like phones, your passengers, even the view.”
As many people travel in the summer, it’s also common for people to be preoccupied looking at their phone for directions. CHP urges people to plan ahead for their journey and make sure all their electronic devices can be used completely hands-free.
“We always advise to prepare for the best, but plan for the worst,” Trenado said.
On one particular sweep of the Watsonville area Tuesday, Trenado pulled over drivers for expired registrations and broken tail lights, mainly just issuing verbal warnings. She also assisted officer Sam Courtney with Spanish-to-English translation in a suspected DUI.
As Fourth of July approaches, maximum enforcement will be put into effect, just as it is on most weekends and holidays. Most CHP officers will be out patrolling, many of them on the lookout for possible drunk drivers, Trenado said.
“It’s OK to drink, and it’s OK to have fun,” she said. “You just have to be responsible about it.”
CHP is also asking for the public’s help in reporting cases of reckless driving by calling 9-1-1.
“As soon as you notice something, call it in,” Trenado said. “The quicker we can get a dangerous situation under control the better.”
