Designate a Driver before the “Fiesta” Begins

Cinco de Mayo has become a joyous day for many Angelenos to honor and celebrate Mexico’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.  Cinco de May is a day to honor the heritage and pride of Mexicans throughout North America.  Unfortunately, it is also a night with unnecessary dangers when community members decide to drink and drive.  Party hosts, bars and restaurants this year are encouraged to plan and promote designating sober drivers in advance – before the ‘Fiesta’ begins.

To ensure a safe and festive Cinco de Mayo, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) recommends the following tips:

•    Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;
•    Designate a sober driver;
•    Leave your car keys at home;
•    Call a taxi, call a friend or family member, or use public transportation to ensure you get home safely;
•    Call 911 if you see a possible drunk driver on the road; and,
•    Take the car keys away from someone who is about to drive impaired and assist them in getting home safely.

In an effort to keep the streets of Los Angeles safe during the Cinco de Mayo celebrations, the LAPD will supplement its routine driving under the influence (DUI) enforcement activities with the following:

Friday, May 2, 2014
•    Sobriety Checkpoint at Huntington Drive at Poplar Boulevard in Hollenbeck Area from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
•    Sobriety Checkpoint at Manchester Avenue at Avalon Boulevard in 77th Street Area from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
•    Sobriety Checkpoint at Western Avenue at 8th Street in Olympic Area from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
•    Sobriety Checkpoint at Vermont Avenue at Melrose Avenue in Rampart Area from 8 p.m. to
2 a.m.

Saturday, May 3, 2014
•    Sobriety Checkpoint at Cahuenga Boulevard at Broadlawn Drive in North Hollywood Area from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
•    Sobriety Checkpoint at Laurel Canyon Boulevard at Oxnard Street in North Hollywood Area from
8 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Monday, May 5, 2014
•    DUI Saturation Patrol in Central Area from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
•    DUI Saturation Patrol in Southwest Area from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
•    DUI Saturation Patrol in Hollywood Area from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
•    DUI Saturation Patrol in Hollywood Area from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Funding for the checkpoints and saturation patrols is provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  We can all help make our streets safer, please report Drunk Drivers – Call 911.  For further information, please contact Officer Don Inman, Traffic Coordination Section, at 213-486-0703.