Winter Mobilization to Arrest Impaired Drivers NA17217ne

LAPD Participates in Winter Mobilization to Arrest Impaired Drivers Remember: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

This holiday season, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) will be working around the clock to keep the community safe as they search for impaired drivers. The LAPD along with other law enforcement agencies throughout the State are partnering with the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in a special year-end Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement mobilization, which runs from December 15, 2017 to January 1, 2018. The goal is to apprehend impaired drivers and educate the community on the dangers of driving impaired.

As part of the winter holiday mobilization, law enforcement agencies throughout the State of California will be conducting DUI Checkpoints and DUI Saturation Patrols. The LAPD has the following DUI-related enforcement activities scheduled:

Thursday, December 14 • DUI Saturation Patrol: Olympic Area 5 P.M. to 1 A.M.

Friday, December 15 • DUI/Driver License Checkpoints: o Florence St. & Main St. 7 P.M. to 12 A.M. o Sepulveda Blvd. & Parthenia St. 7 P.M. to 1 A.M. o State St. & 4th St. 8 P.M. to 1 A.M. o Western Ave & Venice Blvd. 8 P.M. to 1 A.M.

Saturday, December 16 • DUI Saturation Patrol: Northeast Area 6 P.M. to 2 A.M.

• DUI/Driver License Checkpoint: o Imperial Highway & Main St. 6 P.M. to 12 A.M.

Sunday, December 17 • DUI Saturation Patrols: o Southwest Area 12 P.M. to 8 P.M. o Topanga Area 5 P.M. to 1 A.M.

Thursday, December 21 • DUI Saturation Patrol: Southeast Area 5 P.M. to 1 A.M.

• DUI/Driver License Checkpoint: o Manchester Ave & Budlong Ave 6 P.M. to 12 A.M.

Friday, December 22 • DUI Saturation Patrol: Olympic Area 5 P.M. to 1 A.M.

Saturday, December 23 • DUI/Driver License Checkpoints: o Figueroa St. & 112th St. 7 P.M. to 12 A.M. o Ventura Blvd. & Columbus Ave 7 P.M. to 1 A.M. o Laurel Canyon Blvd. & Ventura Pl. 8 P.M. to 1 A.M.

Thursday, December 28 • DUI Saturation Patrol: Olympic Area 6 P.M. to 2 A.M.

Saturday, December 30 • DUI/Driver License Checkpoints: o Victory Blvd. & Bellaire Ave. 7 P.M. to 1 A.M. o Ventura Blvd. & Columbus Ave. 8 P.M. to 1 A.M.

Sunday, December 31 • DUI Saturation Patrols: o Southwest Area 12 P.M.to 8 P.M o Van Nuys Area 5 P.M. to 1 A.M

“This holiday season, drivers will notice increased enforcement watching closely for anyone who is driving impaired,” said Officer Inman, Traffic Coordination Section. “It is vital that we keep our roads and our travelers safe, not just at the holidays, but every day. With extra travelers on the roads and people celebrating, we will likely see an uptick in impaired driving. The LAPD will be arresting anyone caught driving impaired.”

Driving under the influence of alcohol can have deadly, devastating consequences. Nationally in 2016, 37,461 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes, and 28 percent (10,497) died in crashes where a driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over the limit of .08. California reported 1,059 DUI deaths at .08 or above.

Also, California has seen an increase in drug-impaired driving crashes. The LAPD supports the new effort from the OTS that aims to educate all drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to be arrested for DUI. Marijuana use can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI conviction.

“Two simple words can keep your holiday festivities safe – plan ahead,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft. “Before you head out to any celebration, plan how you are getting home safely. If you are drinking, that means knowing what sober driver or service will be using.”

Drivers are encouraged to download the Designated Driver VIP, or “DDVIP,” free mobile app for Android or iPhone. The DDVIP app helps find nearby bars and restaurants that feature free incentives for the designated sober driver, from free non-alcoholic drinks to free appetizers and more.

Funding for this DUI operation is provided to the LAPD by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reminding everyone to ‘Report Drunk Driver – Call 9-1-1’.