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A DUI checkpoint has the power to make any driver nervous, and for good reason. The Los Angeles County-wide DUI enforcement campaign “Avoid the 100” has been in effect since December 14, 2012 and will continue until January 1, 2013, but it has already led to a large number of arrests, according to the Baldwin Park Patch.
The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department reports that police have arrested 621 people on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs from December 14 through December 20 and this number may increase as the Department receives information from other agencies. During the same time period in 2011, there were 894 arrests.
The still ongoing holiday campaign involves a wide range of enforcement efforts, including 153 local DUI saturation patrols, 72 DUI checkpoints, and 25 DUI probation/warrant sweeps. The upcoming New Year’s weekend will be a Maximum Enforcement Period where the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will put all available officers on the road.
Such increases in DUI enforcement absolutely have a purpose, but law enforcement can also become overzealous in this enforcement and target drivers unjustly. If a police officer is told to look for drunk drivers and take them off the road, then they will be looking for signs of intoxication or being under the influence of drugs whenever they pull a driver over regardless. This can lead to misinterpretations of evidence and even mistakes in procedure. DUI defense attorney Joseph Low IV recognizes why law enforcement enacts such strict enforcement campaigns but also understands that the pressure of keeping drunk drivers off the road can lead to the unfair prosecution of innocent drivers.
If you have been arrested for DUI in California, you deserve a strong defense. Contact Joseph Low at The Law Firm of Joseph H. Low IV today at (888) 454-5569 for a free consultation of your legal options.