Los Angeles County Saw Increased DUI Arrests This Thanksgiving

Each year during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and right through the holiday season, there is an increase in the number of DUI patrols and checkpoints throughout Los Angeles County. According to a report in The Annenberg TV News, there was a 10 percent increase in drunk driving arrests this past Thanksgiving weekend. California Highway Patrol officials say that 200 Los Angeles County drivers were arrested for drunk driving over the holiday weekend, which accounts for 22 percent of DUI arrests statewide.

Statewide between 6 p.m. Wednesday November 23, 2011 and 11:59 p.m. Saturday November 26, 2011, there were 1,350 DUI arrests. During the same time period in 2010, there were 1,419 drunk driving arrests in California. Thanksgiving weekend traffic fatalities increased this year from 12 deaths in 2010 to 21 fatalities in 2011.

Penalties for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in California are severe. First-time offenders could face a six-month license suspension, mandatory jail time, required attendance in a DUI school, probation, mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device, and multiple fines and court fees. CA DUI and car insurance is another challenge drivers face and a drunk driving conviction can also be a setback when it comes to finding a job or remaining employed.

Anyone facing drunk driving charges in Los Angeles would be well advised to contact an experienced DUI defense lawyer who will fight for their rights. The knowledgeable Los Angeles DUI defense attorneys at Sitkoff & Hanrahan have a long history of successfully handling DUI cases throughout southern California. To discuss your options at no cost, call us at (866) 430-8383 today.