More than 1,400 people were arrested for driving under the influence in Los Angeles County during a weeklong crackdown that ran through the holiday weekend, authorities said.
Between Dec. 18 and 26, there were 1,424 reported DUI arrests, according to the California Avoid program, a statewide law enforcement coalition of more than 40 counties. There were 1,416 arrests made during the same period last year.
“With all the Christmas parties and holiday office parties going on, a lot of people are out drinking and driving” said Wendy Soos, the local coordinator for Avoid. “It’s amazing how the stats go up around Christmas."
The crackdown will continue through the New Year’s holiday weekend, Soos said. In 2008, more than 400 arrests were made on New Year’s Eve and New Year's Day.
The California Highway Patrol, one of the coalition's partners, made more than 200 arrests for driving under the influence on Los Angeles County freeways this holiday weekend. Overall, the CHP made 236 DUI arrests in L.A. County this year.
In Orange County, the CHP made 22 DUI arrests. In San Diego County, the Highway Patrol made 38 DUI arrests.
Statewide, 16 people died in traffic accidents, the same as last year, according to the CHP.
Now, law enforcement is gearing up for another crackdown with New Year’s weekend ahead. Said Soos: “We just step up the DUI enforcement in order to save lives.”
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