This Fourth of July – There’s No Excuse – “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” NA16139jh

Every year Americans head out on our Nation’s highways to celebrate the Fourth of July at picnics, parties, parades and more. Unfortunately for many, the celebration frequently includes drinking alcohol, which too often leads to drunk driving on one of the most heavily traveled holidays of the year.

From 2010 to 2014, 39 percent of all traffic fatalities over the Fourth of July period occurred in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. In 2014, there were 397 people killed nationally in motor vehicle crashes over the Fourth of July holiday. Of those fatalities, 41 percent were killed in crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. During this holiday weekend, an average of six people are killed and 110 were seriously injured every year in California.

This Fourth of July, the Los Angeles Police Department will be out in full force to crack down on drunk drivers by aggressively targeting those who put lives in danger. In addition to routine staffing, we will conduct the following DUI-related enforcement activities:

Friday, July 1 • DUI/Driver License Checkpoint at Fairfax Avenue and Maryland Drive – 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. • DUI/Driver License Checkpoint at Manchester Avenue and Denver Avenue – 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. • DUI/Driver License Checkpoint at Valley Boulevard and Mariondale Avenue – 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. • DUI Saturation Patrol in 77th Street Area – 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Saturday, July 2 • DUI/Driver License Checkpoint at Van Nuys Boulevard and Remick Avenue – 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. • DUI/Driver License Checkpoint at Van Nuys Boulevard and Roscoe Boulevard – 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. • DUI Saturation Patrol in Central Bureau – 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Sunday, July 3 • DUI/Driver License Checkpoint at Western Avenue and 39th Street – 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. • DUI Saturation Patrol in Newton Area – 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. • DUI Saturation Patrol in Van Nuys Area – 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.

“Don’t even think about drinking and driving this Fourth of July. We will be actively looking for you,” said Officer Inman, Traffic Coordination Section. “The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign means zero tolerance for drunk driving – no excuses.”

The consequences of drunk driving are serious. A DUI arrest means a loss of freedom and money, which includes going to jail, losing a driver license, and paying steep financial costs of $10,000 or more. The LAPD recommends these safe alternatives to drinking and driving. • Plan a safe way home before the fun begins. • Before drinking, designate a sober driver. • DDVIP: The California Office of Traffic Safety DDVIP free mobile app available for iOS and Android devices. The DDVIP app allows 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 drink 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 percent 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 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 percent). Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol. • If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate – “Report Drunk Drivers! 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 he or she is going safely.

Funding for the extra DUI enforcement operations is provided through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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.