DUI Special Operation Nets 2,100+ Arrests in LA County

A county-wide effort to curb drunk and drugged driving during the holidays resulted in thousands of arrests, according to officials.

The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department says the 2012/13 "Avoid the 100" DUI campaign-- named for the number of law enforcement agencies that take part-- resulted in more than 2000 arrests.

According to the department, from 12:01 a.m. Fri. Dec. 14 through midnight Tues. Jan. 1, officers arrested 2,168 individuals for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

During last year's operation in 2011/12-- which was actually two days shorter in length-- there were 2,433 DUI arrests, LASD reported.

The arrests were all part of the special holiday Avoid the 100 campaign, which included the following enforcement efforts:

72 DUI/driver’s license checkpoints

153 local DUI saturation patrols and

25 DUI warrant/probation sweeps

all between Dec. 14 and Jan. 1. The California Highway Patorl also deployed all available officers during two maximum enforcement periods – Christmas and New Years weekends. 

In 2010, more than 10,000 people were killed nationwide in motor vehicle alcohol or drug-related crashes and in California 791 people died on the state's streets and highways. In Los Angeles County, 157 individuals were killed.

Funding for the Avoid the 100 DUI campaign is provided through state and federal grants.

The group's next major crackdown on drunk and drugged driving will occur on Super Bowl Sunday, and again on St. Patrick's Day, the sheriff's department said.