Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Fourth of July Holiday NA15127lp

The Los Angeles Police Department wants to everyone to have a “Safe and Sane” Fourth of July holiday. Although the holiday is a time for families and friends to gather and celebrate, there is a very dark side to this great holiday. The holiday can quickly go from festive to fatal when people choose to overindulge in alcohol or drugs and decide to drive.

During the period of 2009 through 2013, nearly 40 percent of ALL traffic fatalities over the Fourth of July period involved impaired drivers. Of the five major holiday periods of the year in California, the Fourth of July has the highest daily fatality rate. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 199 people killed in alcohol-impaired-driving collisions in 2013 during the Fourth of July holiday period (6 p.m. July 3rd to 5:59 a.m. July 8th). In California, 28 individuals were killed in alcohol-involved collisions.

In an effort to improve public safety during this Fourth of July holiday, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) will be out in full force to aggressively target those community members who are a danger to society. During this upcoming holiday, Driving Under the Influence (DUI)/Driver License Checkpoints and DUI Saturation Patrols will be conducted and all patrol officers will be alert to the obvious signs of an impaired driver. The LAPD will conduct the following DUI-related enforcement activities:

Thursday, July 2 • DUI/Driver License Checkpoint: Vermont Avenue & 5th Street – 7 P.M. to 12 A.M.

Friday, July 3 • DUI/Driver License Checkpoint: Central Avenue & 81st Street – 7 P.M. to 12 A.M. • DUI/Driver License Checkpoint: Sepulveda Boulevard & Rayen Street – 8 P.M. to 1 A.M. • DUI/Driver License Checkpoint: Florence Avenue & Broadway – 8 P.M. to 1 A.M. • DUI/Driver License Checkpoint: Washington Boulevard & Yale Avenue – 8 P.M. to 1 A.M.

Sunday, July 5 • DUI Saturation Patrol: 77th Street Area – 12 P.M. to 8 P.M. • DUI Saturation Patrol: Southwest Area – 5 P.M. to 1 A.M. • DUI Saturation Patrol: Mission Area – 5 P.M. to 1 A.M. • DUI Saturation Patrol: Central Bureau – 6 P.M. to 2 A.M.

The Los Angeles Police Department wants you to know that if are caught driving under the influence you will be arrested. Aside from putting your life and the lives of others at risk, driving under the influence will result in other serious consequences. The arrest will result in you being jailed, the loss of your license and driving privileges and steep financial expenses. The average DUI costs approximately $10,000.

Law enforcement region-wide is asking for everyone’s support this holiday weekend and all summer long:

• Plan a safe way home before the fun begins. • Before drinking, designate a sober driver. • DDVIP: The California Office of Traffic Safety DDVIP mobile app is now available for free download on iOS and Android devices. Launched last year, the new DDVIP app offers enhanced features, allowing users to “Map a Spot” with their current location to find DDVIP partnering establishments in their area or a “List of Spots” to search all participating bars and restaurants throughout California. Users can stay up-to-date with the latest from DDVIP and see what other users are saying via its social tab. Also through the app, for those who want to imbibe but also make it a point to plan ahead, users can easily order a sober ride from Uber, Lyft or Curb – all from one screen. • DRUGS, MEDICATION & ALCOHOL= CRASHES: Recent statistics reveal that 30% of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems. A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14%) than did for alcohol (7.3%). Marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4%, and was slightly more than alcohol. • If you see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate. Call 911. • If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take your friend’s keys and help your friend make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

Funding for the special DUI operations is from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Avoid DUI Task Force will deploy checkpoints and DUI patrols next during the August/Labor Day DUI Mobilization.

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.