LAPD Launches Major Two-Week Drunk Driver Crackdown Tonight

Drinking and driving, as separate activities, are both fantastic. Who doesn't love a scenic ride down PCH, or knocking back fifteen shots of Old Granddad with your elderly grandfather? But we shouldn't have to tell you that the combination of those two pastimes, no matter how many of your favorite actors and musicians may be doing it, is an unnecessary risk. I know, I know, when Pop-Pop gets hammered, he always wants to go to Taco Bell, but the cops have just announced a massive DUI crackdown taking place between now and Labor Day, so these next two weeks or so would be an excellent time to cut down on the booze cruising.

The so-called Summer/Labor Day DUI Campaign, which is in fact not limited to the LAPD alone but also includes a multi-agency task force that plans to blanket the greater Los Angeles area with driver's license checkpoints, roving DUI saturation patrols, and the ominous-sounding, all-encompassing "Task Force Operations." The LAPD has announced several of the checkpoints, which we've listed below, but with roving patrols also on the lookout, you're best off not getting behind the wheel altogether if you've had anything to drink.

[Photo via] Oh, and if you happen to notice that a lot of these checkpoints are in, um, non-white areas, you're not alone. In fact, there's been serious speculation for quite some time that the police prefer to target high-immigrant areas because of the higher likelihood that the drivers will not have licenses, thus enabling more car confiscations, which are a cash cow for the department. Perhaps anticipating this criticism, the LAPD is rolling out (as you can see on the list) a weekend-long Saturation Patrol in "West Los Angeles." Once again, no matter where you are, the lesson is pretty clearly to leave your car at home.

The checkpoint locations, as reported by LA Weekly:

Friday, August 19, 2011 - Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Figueroa Street and 33st Street in Southwest Area;Friday, August 19, 2011 - Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Glenoaks Boulevard and Paxton Street in Foothill Area.

Saturday, August 20, 2011 - Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Topanga Canyon Boulevard and San Jose Street in Devonshire Area.

Saturday, August 20, 2011 - Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Sunset Boulevard and Sutherland Street in Northeast Area

Sunday, August 21, 2011 - DUI Saturation Patrol from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. in Harbor Area.

Friday, August 26, 2011 - Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Figueroa Street and 9th Street in Central Area.

Friday, August 26, 2011 - Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Manchester Avenue and Broadway in Southeast Area.

Friday, August 26, 2011 - Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Sunset Boulevard and Hoover Street in Northeast Area.

Saturday, August 27, 2011 - DUI Saturation Patrol from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. in West Los Angeles Area.

Friday, September 2, 2011 - Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Venice Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue in Wilshire Area.

Friday, September 2, 2011 - Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Topanga Boulevard and Califa Street in Topanga Area.

Saturday, September 3, 2011 - Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Venice Boulevard and Lincoln Boulevard in Pacific Area.

Saturday, September 3, 2011 - Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Western Avenue and Slauson Avenue in 77th Street Area.

Saturday, September 3, 2011 - Sobriety Checkpoint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Figueroa Street and 9th Street in Central Area.

Sunday, September 4, 2011 - Sobriety Checkpoint from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Harbor Boulevard and 1st Street in Harbor Area.

[photo via]