Valley Traffic Sobriety Checkpoint NA09365ah

What:   
Sobriety Checkpoint
When:   
Thursday, December 31, 2009
5:30 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Where:  
Lankershim Boulevard near Chandler Boulevard
North Hollywood

Who:     
Valley Traffic Division                                                      

Why: 
As of December 19, 2009, the North Hollywood Area has endured over 180 DUI related collisions, a 2 % increase from the previous year,” advised the VTD Commanding Officer, PhillipTrotter.

“The sobriety checkpoint is part of the LAPD’s ongoing effort to curb drinking and driving.”

In 2008, 11,773 people died in highway crashes involving a driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.  In California 1,029 were killed on state and local roads driving with a .08 BAC or higher with another 28,457 injured in Alcohol Involved Collisions.

“Drunk driving is simply not worth the risk. Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, but the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest for impaired driving can be significant,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety.  “Violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, attorney fees, time away from work, and dozens of other expenses. So don’t take the chance. Remember, if you are over the limit, you are under arrest.”

Law Enforcement encourages everyone planning a family gathering over the holidays to first think about how your friends and family will get home after drinking during holiday celebrations.  Everyone is encouraged to Report Drunk Drivers! Call 9-1-1 and be ready to describe the vehicle, it’s location and direction of travel to make your community safer into the new year.  With everyone’s help, families won’t remember the holidays of 2009 as a time of loss at the hands of another drunk driver.

Funding for the special enforcement campaign, December 18, 2009 through January 3, 2010 comes from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

If you have any questions regarding this checkpoint, please call Valley Traffic Division at 818-644-8000.