Police plan checkpoints Friday and Sunday as part of an effort to curb impaired driving.
The Los Angeles Police Department will conduct two DUI checkpoints in the West Los Angeles area this weekend as part of ongoing efforts to reduce impaired driving and improve road safety.
Police said the first checkpoint is scheduled for Friday, March 13, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Venice Boulevard and Walgrove Avenue. A second checkpoint is planned for Sunday, March 15, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Pacific Avenue and 10th Street.
Authorities noted that checkpoint locations may change or be canceled depending on operational needs.
LAPD said the sites are selected based on data identifying locations with higher numbers of impaired-driving crashes and arrests. Officials say the checkpoints are intended both to remove suspected impaired drivers from the road and to raise awareness about the dangers of driving under the influence.
Police emphasized that impairment can result from more than alcohol. Certain prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may also affect a person’s ability to drive safely. Although marijuana is legal for medicinal and recreational use in California, driving while impaired by marijuana remains illegal.
According to the department, drivers convicted of a first-time DUI offense can face average fines and penalties of about $13,500, along with a suspended driver’s license.The checkpoint program is funded through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, with support from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
