Driving-Under-the-Influence Sobriety Checkpoint Vehicle Impound Protocols Revised

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has announced revisions to the vehicle impound protocols utilized during Driving-Under-the-Influence (DUI) sobriety checkpoint operations.

The purpose of DUI checkpoints the Department conducts is to detect and apprehend those in the community who are driving while impaired by alcohol and/or drugs. DUI checkpoints are proven and effective public safety tools that save lives.

During DUI checkpoints, officers may encounter unlicensed drivers. When these situations occur, officers will attempt to identify the registered owner of the vehicle. If the registered owner is present or is able to respond to the scene within a reasonable period of time, the vehicle will be released to the registered owner, providing he or she is a licensed driver. If the registered owner is unlicensed, the owner may authorize release of the vehicle to a licensed driver at the scene, and the unlicensed driver will be issued a citation. When the vehicle cannot be released to a licensed driver, the vehicle will be impounded.

For further information, please contact the LAPD Media Relations Section at 213-486-5910.

Comments

[Jerry]

DUI, SAFETY Check-point? an unlicensed driver must be safe? Do they have to have Insurance? If they don`t own the car,Does the owner get ticketed ALSO? What is going to stop Unlicensed,Uninsured drivers? Well Impounding WAS the best deterant! All we need is a few more rants by Activists and we won`t have any LAWS.

[Jamie L.Gregorio]

Why do we keep making it easier for the illegals to stay in our country?
Should not our elected officals follow the law and not make new laws that benefit people who are in our country illegaly?
Breaking our laws has benefited the illegals, maybe we should take note and follow there example.

[BWOp]

I am extremely disappointed in Chief Beck, not enforcing the laws he doesn't agree with. Every office in the state requires that the appointee swear to defend and protect the Constituition of CA and the US. The legislature makes laws and the executive branch enforces it. Whether they agree with it or not.

What if Chief Beck's police officers make decisions for themselves which laws they like and which they don't, and give those who violate them a pass? Internal Affairs would be making allegations of "Neglect of Duty" against them in a flash.

People in the country ILLEGALLY, who CANNOT get drivers licenses due to STATE LAW, are COMMITTING CRIMES when they drive. Without a license they shouldn't even buy a car, and without licenses they can't get insurance since the insurance company needs a drivers license to issue a policy.

In other words, THEY ARE A MENACE to those who have insurance and do things legally, and are main cause of Hit and Run collisions.

Impound their cars.

[nhd]

This is ridiculous! This has truly become two Californias. Citizens have to follow the laws and pay the hefty fines, while illegal immigrants get to bypass testing and fees for acquiring a licence. What's the point of getting a licence in the first place??? We are in opposite world.

[Tony S.]

Are you going to give the same consideration when one of your units pulls a driver over and discovers they have no license and insurance? What about someone pulled over for suspected for DUI not going through a checkpoint. Are they going to get this courtesy too? I am sick and tired of the LAPD pandering to illegals and giving them free passes when US citizens and veterans (like myself) get no free passes! My taxes and military service to this country should count for something! Maybe I should renounce my citizenship and then sneak back in illegally...Special Order 40 would protect me.