WHO:
Los Angeles City Council Member Cindy Miscikowski, Captain Greg Meyer, Commanding Officer Valley Traffic Division, representatives of the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and Tina Pasco, President of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MAAD)

WHAT:
Press Conference To Announce $400,000 Grant and Campaign.

WHEN:
Tuesday, July 1, 2003
2:00 p.m.

WHERE:
Parker Center
150 North Los Angeles Street
Los Angeles

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department is holding a press conference to announce the commencement of a $400,000 driving-under-the influence (DUI) educational and enforcement grant for the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS).

Additionally, the Los Angeles Police Department will announce it’s participation in the State and National, " You Drink and Drive, You Lose" enforcement campaign to be held from June 27 through July 14, 2003.

The Department’s goal is to reduce the amount of DUI traffic collisions and reduce the number of people injured or killed. The Department proposes a two-stage process commencing with a campaign to educate the public and officers, followed by an enforcement campaign, which will include DUI patrols and checkpoints.

During the last three years, the City has experienced a reduction in DUI-related traffic collisions. However, during the same time, the City had well over 7, 500 DUI-related traffic collisions resulting in over 100 fatalities within the City of Los Angeles.

DUI continues to be a problem within the City and is a priority within the Department.

Last year on the fourth of July, the City experienced zero DUI-related fatal traffic collisions. This year, the Department would like to challenge all Angelinos to have a safe and sober fourth of July holiday weekend.

This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Lucy Diaz, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.