Los Angeles Police Department Launches Intensive Crackdown on Impaired Driving NA11192gb

What:
Sobriety & Drivers License Checkpoint
 
When & Where:
•    Friday, August 19, 2011 – Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Figueroa Street and 33st Street in Southwest Area;

•    Friday, August 19, 2011 – Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Glenoaks Boulevard and Paxton Street in Foothill Area;

•    Saturday, August 20, 2011 – Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Topanga Canyon Boulevard and San Jose Street in Devonshire Area;

•    Saturday, August 20, 2011 – Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Sunset Boulevard and Sutherland Street in Northeast Area;

•    Sunday, August 21, 2011 – DUI Saturation Patrol from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. in Harbor Area;

•    Friday, August 26, 2011 – Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Figueroa Street and 9th Street in Central Area;

•    Friday, August 26, 2011 – Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Manchester Avenue and Broadway in Southeast Area;

•    Friday, August 26, 2011 – Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Sunset Boulevard and Hoover Street in Northeast Area;

•    Saturday, August 27, 2011 – DUI Saturation Patrol from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. in West Los Angeles Area.

•    Friday, September 2, 2011 – Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Venice Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue in Wilshire Area;

•    Friday, September 2, 2011 – Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Topanga Boulevard and Califa Street in Topanga Area;

•    Saturday, September 3, 2011 – Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Venice Boulevard and Lincoln Boulevard in Pacific Area;

•    Saturday, September 3, 2011 – Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Western Avenue and Slauson Avenue in 77th Street Area;

•    Saturday, September 3, 2011 – Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Figueroa Street and 9th Street in Central Area; and,

•    Sunday, September 4, 2011 – Sobriety Checkpoint from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Harbor Boulevard and 1st Street in Harbor Area;

Who:
Emergency Operations Division

Why:
The crime of impaired driving is a serious one.  In 2009 alone, 10,839 people died in crashes in which a driver or motorcycle rider was at or above the legal limit, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  The age group with the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes was the 21-to-24 age group.

“All too often, innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the loss of loved ones due to this careless disregard for human life.  Because we’re committed to ending the carnage, we’re intensifying enforcement during the crackdown.  Since twice as many alcohol-impaired accidents occur over the weekend and four times as many occur at night, we will be especially vigilant during these high-risk times when impaired drivers are most likely to be on our roads,” said Lieutenant Ron Katona, Traffic Coordination Section, Emergency Operations Division.

The Los Angeles County Avoid the 100 Task Force will also deploy DUI Driver’s License Checkpoints, Multi Agency DUI Task Force operations and local Roving DUI patrols during 18 day Summer/Labor Day Campaign.

“Our message is simple and unwavering: if we find you driving impaired, we will arrest you. No exceptions,” said Lieutenant Katona.  “Even if you beat the odds and manage to walk away from an impaired-driving crash alive, the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can still destroy your life.”

According to the LAPD, violators will face jail time, loss of their driver licenses, or being sentenced to use ignition interlocks. Their insurance rates go up. Other financial hits include attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work, and the potential loss of job or job prospects. When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators can also face tremendous personal embarrassment and humiliation.

The national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over crackdown is led by NHTSA with the California Avoid DUI Task Force Campaign combining high-visibility enforcement and heightened public awareness through publicity. For more information, visit the High-Visibility Enforcement Campaign Headquarters at www.StopImpairedDriving.org.

Statewide and local Avoid DUI Task Force Campaign Enforcement Schedules and Daily DUI Arrest/Fatal Stats, visit the www.californiaavoid.org.  The Program is funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety who reminds everyone to please – Report Drunk Driving – Call 9-1-1!

Media Notes: To schedule an interview regarding Anti Drunk-Driving efforts, please contact Media Relations Section at 213-486-5910.