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The Sheriff's Department says that from Dec. 13 to midnight on January 1, its deputies and other police agencies in the county booked at least 2,268 drivers on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. They were pulled over or nabbed at sobriety checkpoints placed as part of a crackdown on drunk driving. Not all of the 100 police agencies in the county that took part in the effort have reported their numbers, so the total could go up.
Within the city of Los Angeles the enforcement activity included for the first time the LAPD's widespread use of a field test for marijuana intoxication. It makes use of a mouth swab and was optional for suspects. Refusal to take the other forms of DUI test are grounds for immediate arrest and an automatic license suspension.
The LASD says the crackdown will continue on Super Bowl Sunday in February and around St Patrick’s Day festivities in March.
