Dennis RomeroLAPD Chief Charlie Beck said a few years back that he didn't like publicizing the exact locations of his department's DUI checkpoints.
But the LAPD did just that. Until now, it seems. For the first time in our memory the department's weekend checkpoint list sent to media outlets omits these intersections:
Under a state Supreme Court ruling police in California have to give advance notice of DUI checkpoints.
But they don't have to tell you exactly where they'll be.
After repeatedly arguing that more knowledge can deter drunks from getting behind the wheel, it looks like the LAPD is backing off on giving out this info.
If this is a policy change, however, “that's news to me,” a department spokesman told us.
Anyway, here's what we know for this weekend:
–Tonight from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. there will be a drunk-driver saturation patrol in the Rampart Division area, which covers communities from the 10 freeway to Echo Park, west and northwest of downtown.
–Tonight from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. there will be a DUI checkpoint somewhere in the Olympic Division area (map), which covers much of Koreatown.
–Tonight from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. there will be a DUI checkpoint somewhere in the North Hollywood Division area.
–Saturday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. there will be a drunk-driver checkpoint somewhere in the LAPD's Northeast Division area, which covers Silver Lake, Echo Park, Eagle Rock and more.
A little knowledge is better than none at all. Stay safe.
[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]
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