My News LA reports that the Los Angeles Police Department, along with several other law enforcement agencies, have announced that they will be adding officers and checkpoints beginning this week through New Year’s Day.
All state and local law enforcement agencies and the California Highway Patrol will take part in the campaign. Officers will be on the lookout for behaviors consistent with driving while intoxicated, as well as conducting checkpoints over the next two weeks.
The LAPD announced that it would be conducting a DUI checkpoint at Sunset Boulevard and Orange Grove Avenue in Hollywood on Wednesday, December 15, from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. A second DUI checkpoint will be conducted on Thursday, December 16, near the intersection of Century Boulevard and Western Avenue in the Gramercy Park area from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
In a statement, LAPD Commander Al Pasos said that the increased police presence on the streets and highways are all a part of the National Highway Transportation Administration’s (NHTSA) “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. The federal agency reports that one person on average loses their life every 52 minutes due to a drunk driving crash. Nearly 10,00 lives are lost every year because someone decided to drink and drive.
“The LAPD is committed to keeping our community safe and encourages everyone to stay in for the night or use a designated sober driver when you have consumed alcohol, marijuana, prescription or over-the-counter drugs that may impair an individual’s ability to drive,” Commander Pasos said. “During this holiday season, the LAPD wants everyone to act responsibly and drive safe.”
