Law enforcement officers will be out in force this Memorial Day holiday weekend around the county, with beefed-up patrols and checkpoints, in a campaign to make sure motorists are driving sober and are properly licensed.
At 6 p.m. Friday, the California Highway Patrol will begin a "Maximum
Enforcement Period'' statewide, with all available officers on patrol. The
"If you are celebrating the Memorial Day holiday, we want you to have
fun and be safe,'' CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. "If you get behind the
wheel, make sure you buckle up, and ensure your passengers do the same. Wearing your seat belt can save your life and the lives of those you love.''
Over the Memorial Day weekend in 2011, 24 people died in traffic crashes
statewide; and there were 1,367 DUI arrests statewide in the CHP's
jurisdiction.
The "Avoid the 100'' DUI Campaign in Los Angeles County includes
numerous law enforcement agencies, coordinating with extra patrols and
checkpoints. The enforcement effort is funded by a grant from the California
Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration.
The Los Angeles Police Department's Olympic Station started saturation
patrols at 6 p.m. Thursday. Extra officers hit the streets to specifically look
for drunken drivers, according to LAPD Officer Don Inman.
A checkpoint will be operated on Vermont Avenue between Pico Boulevard
and 12th Street in the Pico-Union district from about 7 p.m. Friday night until
about 3 a.m. Saturday.
Another checkpoint will be operated on Manchester Avenue between Hoover
and Figueroa streets in South Los Angeles beginning about 8 p.m. Friday night.
A drunken driving/license checkpoint will be operated on Sherman Way
between Sepulveda Boulevard and Orion Avenue in North Hollywood beginning about 8 p.m. Saturday.
Officers assigned to the Hollenbeck Station will begin a saturation
patrol on the city's Eastside about 8 p.m. Sunday.
Under a relatively new LAPD policy, people found driving without valid
licenses may be allowed to let a licensed driver take the vehicle instead of it
being towed and impounded. Drivers who have their vehicles towed may be
eligible to pick them up from a police impound lot as early as the next day,
rather than after 30 days.
