St. Patrick’s Day revelers across Los Angeles and parts of Orange County can expect to see a lot more flashing lights than usual, as multiple agencies ramp up DUI enforcement. On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Police Department is rolling out saturation patrols in key neighborhoods, while the California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department say they are stacking shifts to catch impaired drivers. Several city departments, including Burbank and Torrance, are also putting extra officers on the road during the night hours.
Law enforcement laid out the plan in local briefings and press releases. According to MyNewsLA, LAPD saturation patrols are scheduled to begin Tuesday afternoon, with both the CHP and the sheriff’s department sending additional units to hunt for impaired motorists. Officials are pushing a simple message in advance: if you are going out, line up a sober ride before the first drink.
Where officers will be watching
Burbank officials say they will field extra officers from 6 p.m. Tuesday until 2 a.m. Wednesday is a window that covers prime party hours. Torrance plans its own enforcement boost from 5 p.m. to midnight. Pasadena Now reported that LAPD saturation patrols will concentrate on Hollywood, Wilshire, and other popular nightlife strips, with resources shifted to spots where crowds are expected to pack in. Police are also asking residents to call 911 to report suspected impaired drivers and to be ready with a vehicle description and location when they do.
Why officers step up patrols
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration points out that during the 2020 St. Patrick’s Day holiday period, from 6 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18, more than a third of crash fatalities, 36 percent, involved a drunk driver. Local agencies cite that number as a big reason for turning up the heat on enforcement. The sheriff’s office is also reminding people that an impaired-driving arrest and conviction can run more than $15,000 in legal and court costs. Between the risk to life and the financial hit, officials say saturation patrols and checkpoints are a justified way to keep the holiday from ending in tragedy.
How to avoid getting pulled over
Officers are urging anyone planning to drink to make transportation plans now. That means lining up a designated driver or relying on ride-share and public transit rather than taking a chance behind the wheel. Police are also stressing that impairment is not limited to alcohol. Marijuana and certain prescription drugs can affect driving, too, and authorities say if you have taken anything that alters your ability to drive, the keys should stay put…