Drunk Driver Crackdown on Massive Scale to Close Out Summer in Los Angeles

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If you believe critics who argue that the department has targeted poorer, immigrant-heavy communities for its DUI/drivers license checkpoints, where the unlicensed and undocumented often see their cars towed away and sold for cash, then cops are going on a vehicle-seizure spree.

That's because ...

... police in the city are staging 13 DUI/drivers license checkpoints and two "saturation patrols" from tonight through Labor Day weekend. Most of them are not in what you'd consider the whiter, more well-heeled areas of town, interestingly.

One of those saturation patrols -- Saturday from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. -- is in the LAPD's "West Los Angeles Area," but there are no specifics about exactly where it will be. And one of the 13 checkpoints, Saturday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Venice and Lincoln boulevards, is another exception to our observation.

But even some communities in the Westside, like parts of Venice and nearby Mar Vista, are immigrant-heavy.

Facing criticism over the impounding and selling of unlicensed immigrants cars (illegals can't get drivers licenses in California), LAPD Chief Charlie Beck in March announced that nearby friends or relatives could drive the cars home when someone was caught driving without a license.

The department says the weekend's crackdown is part of the national "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" program as well as the California Avoid DUI Task Force Campaign. Cops say you'll see a lot more of this between now and Labor Day.

Here's the LAPD's full roster for DUI checkpoints and patrols through Labor Day weekend. Don't say we didn't warn you:

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; and,

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

[@dennisjromero/djromero@laweekly.com]