Police are warning people celebrating the Fourth of July holiday to arrange a designated driver before beginning the festivities, and have planned added patrols and DUI checkpoints to curb drunk driving across the city.
The Los Angeles Police Department will have added officers patrolling these areas for Thursday, July 3:
- Hollywood area from 4 p.m. to midnight
For Sunday, July 6:
- Central area, including downtown, Chinatown and Bunker Hill, from 4 p.m. to Midnight.
- Mission area, including Arleta, Sylmar and North Hills, from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The department will conduct the following checkpoints Thursday, July 3:
- Vermont Avenue and 5th Street from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
For Saturday, July 5:
- Western Avenue at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from 6 p.m. to Midnight
- Hollywood Boulevard and Argyle Avenue from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
- Figueroa and 9th streets from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
- Oxnard Street and Laurel Canyon Boulevard from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
LAPD encourages anyone celebrating the holiday weekend to plan a safe way home. Police suggest designating a sober driver in advance, leaving the car keys at home, using public transportation, or calling a taxi.
California Highway Patrol will also be conducting a maximum enforcement period from 6 p.m. Friday through Tuesday morning. All available officers will be patrolling the region's freeways.
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“Our goal is to use education and enforcement to get the message out to be responsible this weekend,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said in a statement. “We want everyone to have great Independence Day weekend, but also want you to do it safely and responsibly.”
Other local agencies are also planning added patrols and checkpoints.
Anyone who sees a possible drunk driver on the road should call 911.
