To curb the spike in alcohol- or drug- related crashes that usually accompany Halloween, the Los Angeles Police Department says it is setting up saturation patrols and DUI checkpoints through the weekend.
“Unfortunately, Halloween has the distinction of having the highest number of child pedestrian deaths each year, and ranks among the worst for holiday-related driving under the influence (DUI) traffic collisions and deaths,” the LAPD said in a news release Wednesday.
Revelers on Halloween will see increased patrols, like traffic enforcement focused on speed, right of way and pedestrian violations, the department said.
DUI checkpoints will be set up across the city this weekend.
There will be a checkpoint on Sunset Boulevard at Ogden Drive in Hollywood Friday night and Saturday morning.
From Saturday night to Sunday morning, there will be a checkpoint on Roscoe Boulevard at Gloria Avenue in North Hills.
Nearly 10,000 people were killed nationally in crashes involving a drunk driver or motorcycle rider, in 2011, the most recent year for which statistics are available, according to the LAPD’s news release.
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Almost 800 of those deaths occurred in California.
Checkpoints have been instrumental in reducing the number of DUI deaths, said Christopher J. Murphy, with the California Office of Traffic Safety.
“Since the tragedy of DUI accounts for nearly one third of traffic fatalities, Los Angeles needs the high visibility enforcement and public awareness that checkpoints provide,” he said in a news release.
Police say impaired drivers in the Southland can expect “jail, license suspension, and insurance increases, as well as fines, fees, DUI classes, other expenses that can exceed $10,000.”
View Halloween Weekend DUI Checkpoints in a larger map
