RIVERSIDE – More than 40 people in the Riverside area were arrested on suspicion of impaired driving, and dozens more were cited for speeding, seat belt violations and talking on mobile phones without hands-free devices during the Fourth of July weekend, the California Highway Patrol reported Monday.

Between 6 p.m. Thursday and 11:59 p.m. Sunday, the CHP deployed all available patrol officers on freeways and unincorporated roads in Riverside County as part of the agency's “maximum enforcement period.”

According to statistics released Monday, 41 people were arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in the Riverside area, while 185 motorists were cited for speeding and 19 people were cited for failing to wear their safety belts.

CHP Officer George Foard said there were 11 injury collisions and 16 non-injury collisions. Eight collisions were DUI-related, Foard said.

Riverside-area CHP officers cited 13 motorists for talking on their cellular phones in violation of the new state law, according to Foard.

Under the state's new wireless phone regulation, which took effect Tuesday, drivers under 18 are prohibited entirely – except in emergencies –from using cell phones while driving, and adult drivers must use a hands-free device to operate a mobile phone. The ban doesn't apply to passengers.