Celebrate Labor Day Weekend Responsibly NA14139nv

Labor Day weekend is quickly approaching.  For many Americans that means an extra day off, backyard and beach barbecues, visiting friends and family, and the unofficial end of the summer season.  Unfortunately, it also means a sharp increase in driving under the influence (DUI)-related traffic fatalities.

Starting Thursday, August 14, 2014, and continuing through Monday, September 1, 2014, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the California Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies throughout the state will be aggressively targeting drunk and drugged drivers as part of a nationwide effort to end impaired driving and save lives.  The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign will pair increased public awareness with high-visibility enforcement, resulting in fewer drunk drivers on Los Angeles roads.

The Avoid the 100 Los Angeles County DUI Task Force will be aggressively looking for impaired drivers throughout the region with plans in place for 64 DUI/Driver License Checkpoints, Multi-Agency Strike Teams, 27 roving DUI Saturation Patrols, DUI Warrant/Probation Sweeps and DUI Court Stings targeting suspended drivers who were ordered by the judge not to drive.  The LAPD has planned the following DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols during the campaign period:

Thursday, August 14
•    Sobriety and driver’s license in Southwest Area checkpoint at La Brea Avenue and Rodeo Road
7 P.M. to 1 A.M.

Friday, August 15
•    Sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint in Olympic Area at Western Avenue and 8th Street
8 P.M. to 2 A.M.

•    Sobriety/Driver License Checkpoint in Rampart Area at Olympic Boulevard and Blaine Street
8 P.M. to 2 A.M.

•    Sobriety/Driver License Checkpoint in Mission Area at Sepulveda Boulevard and Parthenia Street 8 P.M. to 2 A.M.

Saturday, August 16
•    DUI Saturation Patrol in 77th Street Area
5 P.M. to 1 A.M.

Sunday, August 17
•    DUI Saturation Patrol in Foothill Area
5 P.M. to 1 A.M.

Thursday, August 21
•    DUI Saturation Patrol in Central Bureau
4 P.M. to 12 A.M.

•    DUI Saturation Patrol in Olympic Area
7 P.M. to 3 A.M.

Friday, August 22
•    Sobriety/Driver License Checkpoint in Southwest Area at Jefferson Boulevard and Western Avenue
7 P.M. to 1 A.M.

•    Sobriety/Driver License Checkpoint in Hollywood Area at Highland Avenue and De Longpre Avenue
8 P.M. to 2 A.M.

•    Sobriety/Driver License Checkpoint in North Hollywood Area at Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Oxnard Street
8 P.M. to 2 A.M.

•    Sobriety/Driver License Checkpoint in Van Nuys Area at Sepulveda Boulevard and Raymer Street 8 P.M. to 2 A.M.

•    DUI Saturation Patrol in Central Bureau
4 P.M. to 12 A.M.

Saturday, August 23
•    Sobriety/Driver License Checkpoint in 77th Street Area at Central Avenue and 81st Street
7 P.M. to 1 A.M.

•    Sobriety/Driver License Checkpoint in Foothill Area at Osborne Street and Laurel Canyon Boulevard
8 P.M. to 2 A.M.

•    Sobriety/Driver License Checkpoint in Pacific Area at Lincoln Boulevard at Maxella Avenue
8 P.M. to 2 A.M.

Sunday, August 24
•    DUI Saturation Patrol in North Hollywood Area
5 P.M. to 1 A.M.

Thursday, August 28
•    DUI Saturation Patrol in Olympic Area
7 P.M. to 3 A.M.

Friday, August 29
•    Sobriety/Driver License Checkpoint in Olympic Area at Vermont Avenue at 6th Street
8 P.M. to 2 A.M.

•    Sobriety/Driver License Checkpoint in West Valley Area at Roscoe Boulevard and Gloria Avenue 8 P.M. to 2 A.M.

•    Sobriety/Driver License Checkpoint in Central Area at Figueroa Street and 9th Street
10 P.M. to 4 A.M.

Saturday, August 30
•    Sobriety/Driver License Checkpoint in Harbor Area at Avalon Boulevard and Opp Street
7 P.M. to 1 A.M.

•    Sobriety/Driver License Checkpoint in Northeast Area at Sunset Boulevard and Laveta Terrace
8 P.M. to 2 A.M.

•    Sobriety/Driver License Checkpoint in West Valley Area at Sherman Way and Yolanda Avenue
8 P.M. to 2 A.M.

•    Sobriety/Driver License Checkpoint in Rampart Area at Olympic Boulevard and Blaine Street
8 P.M. to 2 A.M.

Sunday, August 31
•    DUI Saturation Patrol in Harbor Area
12 P.M. to 8 P.M.

Note:
Checkpoints are subject to change or cancelation.

Why:  “It’s tragic how many people lose their lives to drunk driving,” said Sergeant Sean Karmody, Traffic Coordination Section.  “If the news reported that more than 10,000 people were killed in a preventable crime spree, the American public would be outraged.”  The Avoid the 100 – Los Angeles County DUI Task Force will be joining the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign and will arrest anyone caught driving drunk. No tolerance, no excuses.

In 2012, there were 10,322 people killed in drunk-driving crashes in the United States. Over Labor Day weekend that year, 147 lost their lives to a drunk driver, more than a third (38 percent) of all traffic fatalities that weekend.

Out of all the crash fatalities that weekend, one in four were attributed to drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of .15 percent or higher – almost twice the legal limit in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Every 51 minutes, someone is killed in a drunk-driving crash.  Over the Labor Day weekend, those fatalities increase to one every 34 minutes.  Nighttime is especially dangerous; almost half (46 percent) of the fatalities in nighttime crashes over the Labor Day weekend involved a driver with a BAC of .08 or higher, compared to 25 percent in daytime fatal crashes.

Young drivers are overrepresented in drunk-driving crashes, too.  Among drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 killed in motor vehicle crashes during the 2012 Labor Day weekend, almost half (48 percent) had a .08 percent BAC or higher.  For drivers under 21, anything above a BAC of .00 is illegal.

“Driving drunk is totally inexcusable,” said Sergeant Karmody.  “We’re hoping that Los Angeles drivers get the message and take some simple steps to prevent a tragedy.  There’s always another way home.”  Avoid the 100 – Los Angeles County DUI Task Force is reminding drivers to plan ahead and designate a sober driver before attending any events where alcohol will be served.  “Planning a sober ride home, whether it’s a friend, a taxi, or public transportation, is the right choice,” added Sergeant Karmody.

This Labor Day weekend don’t let the festivities turn into fatalities.  Remember that, aside from the obvious risks of killing yourself or someone else, driving impaired can also lead to serious punitive consequences.  A DUI arrest can mean time in jail, loss of your license, and steep financial expenses; the average DUI can cost up to $10,000.

Avoid the 100 – Los Angeles County DUI Task Force funding is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration who reminds everyone; Report Drunk Drivers! – Call 9-1-1.

 The Office of Traffic Safety is offering a free mobile app – DDVIPCA.COM – aimed at thanking the sober designated driver with perks and free offers at area bars and restaurants.

MEDIA NOTES: To schedule an interview regarding the Los Angeles Police Department traffic safety efforts, please contact Officer Don Inman, Traffic Coordination Section, at (213) 486-0690.  To schedule an interview regarding the Avoid the 100 – Los Angeles County DUI Task Force, please contact Community Service Officer Wendy Brewer, Glendora Police Department, at (626) 241-0605.