Seven drivers were arrested on Fairfax Avenue south of Santa Monica Boulevard on Friday during a DUI/drivers license check conducted by the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department’s Traffic Services Detail.
The check was conducted from 6 p.m. Friday until 2 a.m. Saturday.
Deputies stopped 1,180 vehicles. One driver was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, two were arrested for driving under the influence of drugs, 3 were arrested or cited for operating a vehicle that was unlicensed or whose license had been suspended or revoked, and one driver was cited for operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock device.
Checkpoints are placed in locations where officers believe there is a high likelihood of finding drunk or drugged drivers.
The Sheriff’s Department reports that “in recent years, California has seen a disturbing increase in drug-impaired driving crashes. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department supports the new effort from the Office of Traffic Safety that aims to educate all drivers that ‘DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.’ If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.”
Aside from the fact many believe these stops to be unconstitutional, this is an utter waste of resources. 1100+ drivers stopped, dozens of involved officers. Probably a wiser idea to train them to look for signs of impaired driving (weaving, driving slow, etc) than stopping a disproportionate number of drivers who show no signs of impairment. Doing this would also serve to stop an even bigger cause of accidents in 2018 – distracted riving.
Seven is a lot for these checkpoints. Some of them only net zero or one DUI.
Unfortunately Weho fosters this concept with a bar in every nook and cranny, weed about to unleash and generally distracted drivers. The road & traffic safety improvements on Fountain will look like a fool’s errand.
Oh, but wait! We have Uber and Scooters which each add their layer of risk.
How is uber adding a layer of risk? How do you expect drunk people to get home?
How many registered taxi drivers were arrested for taking advantage of folks, particularly inebriated young ladies? Never heard of one once. Now comes Uber that operates without a scintilla of integrity from the top down. Would I choose Uber? Never! Not since receiving a free R/T compliments of a credit card company. The app corrupted my phone & laptop consequently an Apple tech supervisor unwound it even though a 3rd party issue. V nice! The trip to Burbank airport missed my flight for a one day meeting w a client in SF. On the way home, I had about email… Read more »
Maybe try googling “taxi driver rape” before you spout nonsense? Uber drivers doing bad things is clickbait for websites. You post a headline about it, people click. Do research. It helps.
There are apparently no reliable statistics because of the way information is gathered and classified. In a lifetime of anecdotal experience around the US and Europe and good sense would be one’s best reliable guide while the jury is out. With the visible irresponsible driving practices of Uber specifically, one would be wise to opt out. Never had a concern with an authentic taxi, ever.
There is no reason to drive high or drunk. No excuse. Send them all to prison.