Sobriety Checkpoint Planned for Ventura Boulevard on Friday

The Los Angeles Police Department is warning drivers that this coming Friday night, Dec. 10, there will be an aggressive driver's license checkpoint along Ventura Boulevard.

The officers have pulled over many drunk drivers in the past during these checkpoints, which will go on from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.

The checkpoint will be along Ventura Boulevard between Columbus Avenue and Noble Avenue, according to the LAPD Emergency Operations Division. It is supposed to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol involved crashes, as well as being an valuable means for heightening awareness of the dangers of impaired driving.

Officers will be checking drivers through the checkpoint for signs of alcohol and or drug impairments.  Officers will check for proper licensing and will strive to impact motorists only momentarily.

If officers suspect that a driver has been drinking or is impaired, they will conduct a field sobriety test.  If you fail, expect jail, vehicle storage fees, license suspension, insurance rate increases, along with fines, fees, driving under the influence classes, other expenses that can exceed $10,000.

If you don't agree to the test, you could lose your driver's license for a year.

Statewide, overall traffic deaths declined by 23 percent, from 3,995 in 2007 to 3,081 in 2009.  Total traffic fatalities are at their lowest levels in six decades, when the federal government began compiling figures.  

Driving under the influence deaths declined by 16 percent, from 1,132 in 2007 to 950 in 2009, according to federal statistics.  Alcohol impaired deaths still make up the largest category of overall vehicle fatalities in 2009, with 31 percent of all deaths caused by a drunk or impaired driver.

"Everyone in California should be heartened with these figures," said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety.  "But as encouraging as this is, we can't let up on the efforts to encourage and support traffic safety.  You can help make your community safe; if you see a Drunk Driver – Call 9-1-1."

Funding for this and other DUI checkpoints are provided to the Los Angeles Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, targeting those who still don't heed the message to designate a sober driver.  

For further information, please contact Officer Don Inman, Emergency Operations Division, at (213) 486-0703.