Deputies from the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department’s traffic services detail will be conducting a DUI/driver’s license checkpoint on at an undisclosed location in West Hollywood.
That check will look for drivers impaired by marijuana and other drugs as well as alcohol.
The DUI/license check will be conducted between the hours of 6 p.m. and 2 a.m.
In an announcement of the checkpoint, the Sheriff’s Department noted that “in recent years, California has seen a disturbing increase in drug-impaired driving crashes. ” That increase has inspired a campaign by the Office of Traffic Safety that aims to educate all drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.”
S”tudies of California drivers have shown that 30% of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems,” the announcemet said. “A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14%) than did for alcohol (7.3%). Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4%, slightly more than alcohol.”
“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,” the announcement says.
The Sheriff’s Department announces the general location of DUI checks because that has been proven to reduce by up to 20% crashes involving an impaired driver.
DUI checkpoints are in locations based chosen by collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests.
I for one hope instead of setting up a major check point in front of all the gay bars in weho as they have done repeatedly. Maybe a check point in front of 1 oak or the sky bar needs some broad based community impact. Sunset blvd?? Hmmm…