Full Notification

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
Valley Traffic Division

July 1, 2013

The 4th of July weekend is here and that means trips to the beach, pool parties and barbeques. Unfortunately, it could also mean drunk driving, traffic collisions, injuries and deaths.

The Los Angeles Police Department will be joining our law enforcement partners throughout our country to detect and arrest impaired drivers during this holiday weekend with the goal of saving lives.

Drunk driving is one of the most serious, and preventable, dangers we face on our streets. On average someone is killed by a drunk driver in the United States every 53 minutes.
Los Angeles Police Officers last year arrested over 14,707 intoxicated drivers. Approximately 2,211 traffic collisions occurred where someone was driving while impaired in the City of Los Angeles.

Alcohol and drugs affect judgment, reaction time, concentration, vision, and play a major role in traffic collisions. Everyone is at risk from impaired drivers. That is why we are having DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols during this 4th of July weekend.

Impaired drivers don’t think of safety and put everyone in our communities at risk. Impaired drivers place other drivers and pedestrians at risk of being involved in a traffic collision. If impaired drivers don’t think of safety, we will think of safety for them. Driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher is illegal in every state. If you are over the limit you will be under arrest! Remember, buzzed driving is drunk driving. Call 911 if you see a possible drunk driver on the road.

Whether you’ve had way too many or just one too many, it’s not worth the risk. Impaired driving has serious consequences. Impaired drivers often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, attorney fees, towing and repair fees, lost time at work, etc. Taking all these consequences into account, the average cost for a first time DUI arrest is about $14,000.

Designate a sober driver before leaving home and give that person your keys.
Wear your seatbelt as this is your best protection against an impaired or aggressive driver.
If you become impaired, don’t get behind the wheel of a car or motorcycle.

The Los Angeles Police Department wants everyone to celebrate this 4th of July weekend responsibly to avoid becoming a D.U.I statistic where someone may be injured or killed. So, if alcoholic beverages are going to be part of your 4th of July celebration or at any time during the year…

Have a designated driver
Use public transportation
Use a taxi
Don’t let the L.A.P.D be your designated driver!
Don’t celebrate the 4th of July weekend in jail!!