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Plenty O' DUI Checkpoints Planned for St. Patrick's Day Weekend
Photo courtesy the Orange County Sheriff's Department
We warned you: It's going to be mighty hard (not to mention mighty stupid to try) to get away with driving drunk this St. Patrick's Day weekend. Revelers beware, and plan how you're going to get home from your celebrations safely.
For savvy designated drivers (or just motorists who need to use the streets Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights) all over the Southland, be aware that police will be out in full force, so plan your routes accordingly.
During this holiday, police, Sheriff, and CHP throughout Los Angeles County will be on high alert, cracking down on drunk drivers as part of its Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over public safety campaign, cautions the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
The LAPD has released information about several weekend checkpoints and patrols:
Friday, March 15, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
West Los Angeles: Santa Monica Boulevard at Carmelina Avenue
North Hollywood: Victory Boulevard at Bellingham Avenue
Los Angeles: Florence Avenue and Broadway
Hollywood: Highland Avenue and DeLongpre Avenue
Saturday, March 16
Los Angeles: Imperial Highway and Main Street, 6 p.m. to midnight
Sun Valley: Van Nuys Boulevard and Amboy Avenue, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Sunday, March 17
Saturation patrols will cover the following LAPD division areas:
Hollenbeck and Newton Divisions, 2 p.m to 10 p.m.
North Hollywood Division, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
77th Street Division, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Hollywood Division, 7 p.m. to 3 a.m.
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If your weekend finds you in Orange County, we know that authorities there are also going to be on high alert.
The Orange County DUI Task Force, which is comprised of 38 law enforcement agencies in Orange County, will be deploying special roving DUI patrols this St. Patrick’s Day weekend in several communities, looking to stop and arrest drivers who are impaired by alcohol or drugs. These DUI patrols are in addition to regularly scheduled patrol officers.
One announced checkpoint will take place at an undisclosed location in San Clemente Friday night from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Bottom line: Be smart! If you're headed out anywhere this weekend and become intoxicated, use a designated driver, take public transit, or call a cab.
For more on why the LAPD shares checkpoint schedules and locations with the media, see our 2010 interview with Chief Charlie Beck.
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