Police Launch Crackdown on Drunk Driving

The announced last week that it will join nearly 10,000 other law enforcement agencies nationwide in support of Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, an intensive crackdown on impaired driving Aug. 19 through Sept. 5. 

As a part of this campaign, a DUI checkpoint is scheduled for Aug. 26, in the 400 block of Fair Oaks Avenue, beginning at 8 p.m. 

“All too often, innocent, law-abiding people suffer tragic consequences and the loss of loved ones due to this careless disregard for human life," said South Pasadena Police Chief Joe Payne.

In 2009, 10,839 people died in drunk-driving related crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The highest percentage of these fatalities occurred with people aged 21 to 24.

"Because we’re committed to ending the carnage, we’re intensifying enforcement during the crackdown," said Chief Payne. "Since twice as many alcohol-impaired accidents occur over the weekend and four times as many occur at night, we will be especially vigilant during these high-risk times when impaired drivers are most likely to be on our roads.” 

According to the , violators will face jail time, loss of their driver licenses or sentencing of ignition interlocks. The department reminds residents: Financial hits would include a spike in insurance rates, attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work and the potential loss of job or job prospects. 

 “Our message is simple and unwavering: If we find you driving impaired, we will arrest you. No exceptions,” said Chief Payne. “Even if you beat the odds and manage to walk away from an impaired-driving crash alive, the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for driving while impaired can still destroy your life.”

The Los Angeles County Avoid the 100 Task Force will also deploy DUI/driver’s license checkpoints, multi-agency DUI task force operations and local roving DUI patrols during this 18-day Summer/Labor Day campaign.

The national Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over crackdown is led by NHTSA, with the California Avoid DUI Task Force Campaign combining high-visibility enforcement and heightened public awareness through publicity. The program is funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety, which reminds everyone to report drunk driving by calling 911. 

For more information, visit the High-Visibility Enforcement Campaign Headquarters.Click here for statewide and local Avoid DUI Task Force Campaign Enforcement Schedules and Daily DUI Arrest/Fatal Stats.