As December's festivities escalate, the Los Angeles Police Department has rolled out a stark reminder: drive sober or get pulled over. This seasonal crackdown comes with an array of checkpoints and DUI patrols throughout Los Angeles to keep holiday revelers and innocent bystanders safe on the roads. The LAPD Newsroom details the enforcement campaign that started on December 13 and runs through New Year's Day.
December 2021 saw a sobering tally of 1,013 fatalities due to alcohol-impaired driving crashes nationwide. "Impaired driving isn’t just dangerous, it’s illegal. Let’s make this a joyful and safe holiday season for everyone on the road," Commander Valenzuela, Commanding Officer of Traffic Group, emphasized in a statement. DUI Saturation Patrols and Checkpoints from Roscoe Boulevard to La Cienega and beyond underscore the department’s dedication to curtailing impaired driving during these high-risk weeks.
The LAPD cautions not just against the effects of alcohol but also against the impairing impact of marijuana, prescription drugs, and over-the-counter drugs on driving ability. Individuals are urged to do their research and understand how substances might affect their ability to stay safe behind the wheel.
The initiative, supported in part by funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, casts a broader net than just local enforcement. It’s part of the national "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign, a concerted effort across states to diminish the annual spike in drunk and impaired driving that rides, almost like a shadow, alongside holiday merriment.
