TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT KICKS INTO HIGH GEAR.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Sheriff's deputies and the California Highway Patrol are stepping up enforcement through the holiday season with sobriety and driver's license checkpoints and deployment of additional officers.

Lancaster deputies will conduct at least two checkpoints on Thursday and Dec. 30 as part of a crackdown on motorists who drink and drive and those who drive without a license.

The CHP will have additional officers out on the roads, along with patrols by helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, to track down drunk drivers, speeders and people who don't use seat belts.

``The focus of the department is to save lives.'' CHP Lt. Andria Witmer said. ``Our goal is to prevent people from getting killed and injured in traffic accidents.''

According to CHP statistics, more than 31 percent of all fatal collisions in California in 2004 involved drunk drivers. Nearly 11 percent of injury traffic collisions were alcohol-related.

The increased staffing is part of the CHP's second annual Operation STAR, or Statewide Traffic Action Response, which began Friday and continues through Jan. 2.

``As part of our second annual Operation STAR, additional uniformed CHP officers will be out on the roadways,'' said Capt. Doug Rich, commander of the Antelope Valley CHP station. ``Last year, this resulted in a dramatic 25.5 percent drop in deaths. We hope to continue that trend with this year's Operation STAR.''

Sixty-three fewer people were killed statewide in 2004 compared to the same period in 2003.

Witmer said in some areas, the aircraft will be flying over freeways and notifying officers on the ground about speeders and other violators.

She said traffic fatalities in the local CHP jurisdiction are down so far this year compared to 2004.

There have been 31 fatal collisions, with 38 people killed, in 2005, compared to 42 fatal collisions at this time last year, resulting in 47 deaths, Witmer said.

The sheriff's sobriety and driver's license checkpoints are being funded through a state grant.

``This will be off a grant from the Office of Traffic Safety,'' Deputy Jon White said. ``We are planning on doing two of them by the end of the year. With the holidays, there's lots more people drinking and driving and we are going to crack down on it.''

Traffic fatalities are increasing in Lancaster, White said. This year, there have been 24 fatal collisions resulting in 26 deaths. Last year, 15 people were killed in traffic collisions, White said.

Those driving without a valid license, or on a suspended license, risk receiving a citation and, under certain circumstances, having their vehicle impounded for up to 30 days, deputies said.

Karen Maeshiro, [phone]

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com