Los Angeles Police Give Stern Warning "Don’t Drive While “buzzed,” or You Will get Busted or Worse"

Newsflash from your Hollywood Attorney:

That was the stern warning Friday from law enforcement officials, who plan to be out in force keeping streets safe as 2013 turns into 2014.

“We want to make sure everybody gets the message loud and clear,” Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Cmdr. Andrew Smith said. “There will be a zero-tolerance policy for people driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”

Citing analysis by the Automobile Club of Southern California, City Attorney Mike Feuer said alcohol-related deaths and injuries are 86 percent higher during the holiday season compared with the rest of the year. During the two-week holiday season last year, his office filed almost 600 DUI cases.

Drug-related vehicular accidents also spike, with tragic consequences, he noted. “It’s impossible to quantify the effects on a family whose loved one isn’t coming home because someone has made the irresponsible decision to drink or use drugs and then drive,” Feuer said. “That decision will have irreversible consequences for many other people — and for the perpetrator.”

Mothers Against Drunk Driving executive director Patricia Rillera said the advocacy group talks to those families every day, helping them cope with their grief.

“We understand that alcohol is a part of a lot of festivities, especially during this particular time of the year, but please drink responsibly,” she added.

Driving under the influence has already caused 2,087 traffic collisions and claimed 16 lives within city limits, according to the LAPD.

“Don’t be one of those statistics that ends up in the morgue or ends up in jail because we’ll have plenty of officers looking for drunk drivers,” the police spokesman said.

Anticipating many New Year’s Eve revelers will be high or drunk while behind the wheel, LAPD and the California Highway Patrol will set up sobriety checkpoints and have “maximum deployment” of traffic officers, motorcycle officers and jailers to lock up those considered a risk to themselves and others.

Thanks to a $500,000 federal grant, some of those sobriety checkpoints will be equipped with new technology capable of checking a driver’s saliva — instead of blood, which is the usual method — for alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, amphetamines, methamphetamines, opiates, methodone, narcotic analgesics and benzodiazepine. It’s more convenient, less invasive and less expensive and also provides immediate results that are just as reliable.

Even legally prescribed medication such as medical marijuana, Vicodan and Xanax can cause impairment and should not be taken before driving.

Deputy City Attorney Michelle de Casas warned that even a first DUI comes with steep penalties. “We’re talking in the range of about $5,000 to $8,000 just in terms of fines and fees that you have to pay for ... and this is assuming that you’re not already paying for a lawyer,” she said.

A conviction may also result in the revocation of a driver’s license. Those who will be drinking are advised to have a designated driver, use public transportation or sleep over at their party.

Source... http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/general-news/20131227/thinking-of-drinking-on-new-years-eve-then-dont-drive-warn-local-cops

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