PALMDALE – It may fall on a Tuesday, but that won’t keep thousands of revelers from celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year, and authorities are warning people to avoid drinking and driving.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will deploy roving DUI patrols within the city limits of Palmdale on March 17, in addition to its normal enforcement operations, authorities announced Monday.
Police agencies across the region are planning similar efforts.
According to the Sheriff’s Department, St. Patrick’s Day has traditionally been marred by a spike in drunken-driving fatalities across the country.
Sheriff’s officials noted that between 2009 and 2013, nearly 75 percent of the DUI fatalities on St. Patrick’s Day involved drivers whose blood-alcohol content was double the legal limit.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department offered this advice to party-goers: “Get ahead of the decision this year. If you know you’re going to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with alcohol, then figure out a plan ahead of time for how you’ll get home. Don’t wait until you’re too buzzed to decide, and don’t let your friends drive drunk.”
Law enforcement authorities are urging drinking revelers to have a designated driver or have the number of a taxi or rideshare company on hand, and give car keys to a friend or leave them at home.
Authorities said drugs and medications can also impair people’s ability to drive.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on March 17 will also deploy roving DUI patrols within the city limits of Malibu, along with two DUI checkpoints in the cities of Bellflower and Pico Rivera.
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Bob says
The roving revenue collection scammers will be out in force looking for more arrest statistics and more bank accounts to suck dry. Watch yourself when these extortionists are on the streets.
SuckitAVs says
The Antelope Valley really is the no-fun-zone. Other cities with far more nightlife and drinking establishments do not come close to this level of war waging against their own citizens. What a boring, lifeless sh!thole. FTAV
Russ K says
What exactly is a rolling DUI patrol and how does this differ from regular patrols (or does it)? If this is as effective as DUI roadblocks then we should expect zero actual DUI arrests and a plethora of other menial arrests, right?
Frank Rizzo says
Its the LASO driving under the influence while on patrol.
Bob says
A roving patrol means any person out at night doing nothing, driving perfectly fine down the street, will still be pulled over randomly so the cops can snoop around. You don’t have to be weaving, you don’t have to commit ANY traffic infractions. It means they pull over people for no reason and arrest perfectly coherent adults for drinking 3 Coors lights at dinner. All under the guise of ‘public security.’ Oh, and don’t forget the new marijuana DUI scam they got going. Marijuana and driving is about as dangerous as drinking a Starbucks Venti Latte and driving.
Eric says
Even Bob hits one out of the park occasionally!
Exactly. I’m running my errands as soon as I get off work and then parking myself at home for the rest of the night. Safest spot you’ll be all night.