L.A. County Nets 1,373 Arrests in 18 Days of DUI Checkpoints

Los Angeles County has so far made 1,373 arrests in 18 days as part of an effort to crackdown on drunk driving, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.

Agencies throughout the county started Aug. 16 with intensive DUI checkpoints and Saturation Patrols, garnering 568 arrests for suspicion of driving under the influence between Aug. 16 and Aug. 18.

Sheriff's deputies arrested four drivers on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol at a DUI and driver's license checkpoint in West Hollywood, the department announced Monday.

There were two arrests for suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and one for suspicion of being in possession of narcotics, said Detective Daniel Dail of the sheriff's Traffic Services Detail.

Nearly 3,000 drivers were checked at the checkpoint conducted Friday at Santa Monica and Robertson boulevards, Dail said.

Six vehicles were stored for a day, Dail said.

Just last weekend in West Hollywood, the LASD reported 6,852 vehicles through the checkpoints and out of the 2,953 drivers checked, four DUI’s under suspicion of alcohol, two DUI’s under suspicion of drugs and one arrest for the suspected illegal possession of narcotics.

“Saving lives, reducing injuries, traffic collisions and property damage is important work,” Sheriff Lee Baca said in a written statement. "Every life is a life worth saving and we will do our utmost to help keep the public safe."

The following are safe driving and partying tips from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs department to remember during the upcoming holiday weekend:

• “Arrange rides home for your friends, family, co-workers and yourself before the drinking begins 
• "Identify and provide free non-alcoholic drinks or other promotional items to the Designated Driver
  
• "Party hosts and servers must limit drinks to your guests or patrons. Don’t serve more than one or two over several hours. 
• "Cut back on the amount of drinks you plan to bring to the party – and provide plenty of food.”
  
  

-City News Service contributed to this report