Drivers face $13,500 in potential fines as LAPD targets alcohol and drug impairment.
Sawtelle and National boulevards will serve as the site of a Los Angeles Police Department sobriety checkpoint this weekend as part of a citywide effort to curb impaired driving.
The checkpoint is scheduled for Friday, April 3, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Officers will screen passing motorists for signs of impairment from alcohol, as well as legal and illegal drugs. While the LAPD selects these high-visibility locations based on historical data regarding DUI-related collisions and arrests, officials noted that checkpoint times and placements are subject to change or cancellation.
Department officials stressed that impaired driving encompasses more than just alcohol consumption.
“Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving,” the department stated in a public advisory. Authorities also reminded the public that while marijuana is legal for medicinal and recreational use in California, operating a vehicle under its influence remains a criminal offense.
The financial stakes for violators are significant. A first-time DUI conviction in California carries an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, in addition to a mandatory driver’s license suspension.
Funding for the enforcement program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
