The three major law enforcement agencies that operate within LA County (LAPD, CHP, and the LA Co. Sheriff's Department) are working together this Labor Day weekend as a team on the "Avoid DUI Task Force." As part of the program they will operate 18 DUI checkpoints as well as "42 patrols throughout the county in search of drunk drivers," according to abc7.com. Luckily, California leads the list of states that have seen a decline in......

The LAPD has announced a checkpoint in an effort to get more drunk drivers off the road. Tonight from 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., the intersection of Sepulveda Blvd at Nordoff in Panorama City will be host to that checkpoint. Why this location? The LAPD says that "during the past year, Panorama City has experienced over 82 collisions involving an intoxicated driver. In addition, as of July 19, 2008, there have been over 485 'Hit......

There's a sobriety checkpoint in Hollywood at Gower Street and Hollywood Boulevard from 7:30 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. tonight. Traffic can slow down considerably at these, so if you're in the area, you should avoid it because you are a good citizen that reads LAist and doesn't drink and drive, right? And if you're drunk, taxis can now legally pull over to pick you up in some parts of Hollywood, so take advantage and make......

This image made from video provided by WWW.HOLLYWOOD.TV shows the overturned vehicle of actor Shia LaBeouf in Los Angeles on Sunday, July 27, 2008 (AP Photo/WWW.HOLLYWOOD.TV) Actor Shia LaBeouf (Indiana Jones 4, Transformers) was arrested on suspicion of a DUI early yesterday morning after he and two others were hurt in a crash at Fountain and La Brea in West Hollywood. According to LA County sheriff's deputies, the actor made a left turn instead......

It will be rush hour, but due to four DUI collisions in the last year at Oxnard and Lankershim, the LAPD will be holding a DUI checkpoint from 5:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. nearby at Lankershim and Victory Boulevards tomorrow evening. Additionally, the North Hollywood area has had a 56% increase in DUI collisions this year. Now, that's not a good statistic, no matter how you put it.......

Earlier this week, the LAPD announced one sobriety checkpoint taking place tonight in the Valley. This morning, they announced two more, one in Harbor area and another on the Westside. From 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., they will be on Avalon Boulevard between Opp Street and I Street in Wilmington and from 7:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. at Pacific Coast Highway and Temescal Canyon Road in Pacific Palisades. Stay safe out there.......

Here's a statistic that is saddening. There have been over 130 collisions involving an intoxicated driver this year. And that's only for the West Valley Division that covers neighborhoods like Canoga Park and West Hills. That's only one police division out of six in the San Fernando Valley. Throughout the Valley, there have been over 550 DUI related crashes. Not only does West Valley have the highest number of DUI related collisions for the Valley,......

If you're part of some drama and TMZ is around, it doesn't matter if you're a celebrity or not. You're going to be online and in-house publicists are going to e-mail every blog in town about it. Last night outside of STK, the swanky La Cienega Blvd. restaurant, a girl was hit by an SUV that sped off after. The victim's boyfriend chased down the SUV and confronted the girl until police and paramedics arrived.......

If your Saturday evening plans have you a) drinking and b) traveling in or through Van Nuys, a word to the wise via the Daily News: "Cops will be out in force tomorrow night in Van Nuys doing a sobriety checkpoint from 6 p.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday to cut the number of DUI-related traffic collisions." The location of the checkpoint has not been revealed, but the reasoning is as clear as a shot......

No joke, a car crashed into one of Hollywood's improv comedy clubs today at 4:33 p.m. iO West Theater (you know, as in Improv Olympic) at the corner of Hollywood and Cosmo was the victim. Luckily, no one was hurt says the LA Fire Department and a witness on scene said the driver was drunk (isn't it a little early to be drinking and then driving? Shouldn't you still be drinking at this hour?). Paramedics......

Mrs. Dogg (aka Shante Broadus) has reportedly been arrested overnight in Fullerton for a DUI. According to cbs2.com (who got the scoop from this town's real news powerhouse, TMZ), the 32-year-old Broadus was stopped by police "near the area of Highland and Orangethorpe Avenues at about 12:15 a.m." No information about what led authorities to pull over Broadus, however it has been made public that she "was given a citation and a notice to appear......

On Monday, California Highway Patrol officers announced that several students at El Camino High in Oceanside had died over the weekend because of drunk-driver incidents. In fact, so many fell victim, 26 in all, some students thought there might have been a gang shooting. Tears, screams and all the emotions were heard throughout classrooms. Then, at some point later in the day, came the "just kidding! Don't drink and drive, kids." Students were outraged, but......

(AP Photo/Jose Fidelino Vera Hernandez) Police say that 28-year-old Juan Campos, allegedly of Brownsville, Texas, was apparently drunk and fell asleep when he crashed into a bicycle race near Matamoros, Mexico, which is near the U.S. border. At least one person was killed and 14 were injured. The 24-kilometer race, which took place on Sunday, had only started 15-minutes prior to the incident. (h/t Streetsblog LA)......

A man suspected of a DUI (influence of heroin that is) was driving on the 100 block of Washington Blvd. last night where officers on patrol witnessed him hit up to ten parked cars near the intersection of Strongs Drive. When officers approached the vehicle, the man resisted attempts by the officers to take him out of the van by allegedly poking them both with a syringe, according to KCBS. The officers then subdued the......

Surfing on the Wall, by Carlito_Brigante via LAist Featured Photos Pool on Flickr. In the wee hours of the morning, a cop driving west on Victory Boulevard in Van Nuys crashed his patrol car into a tree in order to avoid a collision with another driver who was believed to have been under the influence. The suspected DUI driver allegedly was driving away from a bar, and got away after the cop's crash. A......

Photo by delara-photos via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr DID U C OPRAH 2DAY? OMG SO GR8! OOPS G2G, PPL R B-TING SUM GUY UP TTYL! Pasadena ain't your ashtray. So tonight their city council meets to vote on a massive smoking ban that will prohibit puffers to indulge in their habit in almost any public place. Hey, what's the latest on the upcoming SAG/AFTRA contract talks? Deadline Hollywood Daily has an......

Blazers 82, Clippers 80 - Portland blew a 14 point lead in Staples Center one night after blowing a 15 point lead on the very same court. This time they were playing the Clippers, so things worked out OK. Los Angeles managed a pathetic 29 points in the first half, but did make a noble effort in the second. Corey Maggette was hot with 32 points, but missed a big shot with eight ticks left.......

Santee Village Apartments | Photo by atomicshakespeares via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr It's not the same thrill as being singled out as a draft pick when it's the police who want you: "An arrest warrant has been issued by the Irvine Police Department for St. Louis Cardinals utilityman Scott Spiezio on six charges stemming from a Dec. 30 incident." Police in Burbank are investigating the mysterious death of 47-year-old Glen Giles,......

Part of an ongoing series. Three weeks ago, The Airborne Toxic Event (MySpace) concluded their January residency at Spaceland (MySpace) in Silver Lake with a show that included The Deadly Syndrome (MySpace) and Castledoor (MySpace). It was a chance to see all three of Kevin Bronson's bands to watch on the same stage in a single night. So many people (including Kiefer Sutherland, who had recently completed his DUI prison sentence) descended to Spaceland......

The Metropolitan Water Board is set to approve a controversial new "drought plan" for Southern California. More updates on the tragic Oxnard shooting that has left one student seriously injured and possibly dead. Twelve top Defamer posts from outgoing editor Mark Lisanti, via...some guy's Tumblr account. Teh internets! Are you a lazy asshole? But a romantic lazy asshole? Well, check out last minute V-Day flower bargains from the Daily News' Bargain Hunter Blog. File......

Maybe he's a cat person? LA Times big-wig Sam Zell has been quoted as saying a healthy love of lady-parts is downright patriotic. LA Observed explores the origins of what was said and why; apparently Zell thinks pussy's so nice, he said it twice: "He said: 'Everyone likes pussy. It’s un-American not to like pussy'" explains someone at the Times. Prince Andrew paid a visit to Compton yesterday to helm the ribbon-cutting ceremony at......

Roger Avary, the Academy Award-winning writer of the 1994 cult classic Pulp Fiction, was arrested this weekend on charges of manslaughter. The arrest stems from his involvement in a car accident Sunday night in Ojai that left his wife injured, and one other person dead. Avary, who was at the wheel, was booked on suspicion of DUI, and his passenger, 34-year-old Andreas Zini, a guest of the Avary's from Italy, was taken to the hospital,......

So far this weekend in the Southland there have been several major freeway accidents that led to injuries, deaths, arrests, and shutdowns. In the early hours of Saturday in Diamond Bar, a driver going the wrong way in his pickup truck on the transition road from the eastbound 60 Freeway to the northbound 57 Freeway collided with a minivan, killing its driver. As KNBC.com reports: "The wrong-way driver, who is believed to have been intoxicated,......

Officer, police thyself: Sherrifs are looking among their own ranks for DUI-free behavior this NYE. And they're looking at you, too, pal. Drive safe, designate a driver, take the Metro, or call for a Tipsy Tow. The darkest hour is just before dawn--but not on our freeways. 4.2 million Commuters in the Southland get a start on their daily drives before 6 o'clock each morning, proving there are increasingly fewer "good times" to get on......

It's a matter of simple math: New Year's Eve + Drinking + Driving = DUI. That's why the smart--and thoughtful--folks at the Auto Club (AAA) are once again offering up their "Tipsy Tow" service, which provides free rides in the 13 SoCal counties they serve from 6 p.m. tonight until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, January 1, 2008. That's a pretty sweet deal, in all honesty. Here's what you, or your party host, or your concerned......

Officer Down: A SWAT team was dispatched late today to a Reseda home on the 11800 block of Blythe Street where it is believed an officer was shot. The gunman has barricaded himself in the home and it's unclear whether he has been apprehended. The injured LAPD officer was transported to a local hospital. The funeral was held today for 17-year-old Nataline Sarkisyan, who died after her insurance company refused her liver transplant. Mourners......

L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. just announced that Mischa Barton was pulled over at 2:46AM this morning while driving in the 900 block of north La Cienega Boulevard in West Hollywood. According to the police report, her vehicle was seen "straddling two lanes of traffic and failed to signal when making a turn." And what's "straddling two lanes of traffic" code for? Driving drunk. Once it was determined that she was "under the influence of an......

A suspected drunk driver brough his Sunday to a crashing conclusion when he led officers on a chase from Santa Ana to Glendale late last night. The PIT maneuver was employed on the Colorado Street offramp of the 5 North to bring things to a halt. Kids, don't go spiking Santa's milk tonight with rum; we don't want the cops chasing any reindeer-led sleighs! The LA Times chimes in with their thoughts today on the......

The edgy and tough LAPD officer on LOST, Ana Lucia Cortez, or actor Michelle Rodriguez, began her 180 jail sentence yesterday at 4:00 p.m. Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood is the same facility where Paris Hilton spent her jail time and Rodriquez, who is serving time for violating her probation after a DUI hit-and-run, will be spending a much longer time than her character might ever spend on the island:In June 2004, Rodriguez pleaded......

The robbery spree of an OC couple in their twenties came to an end this week after a purse-snatching and pepper-spraying incident at a Wal-Mart. The two are also suspected of a robbery in Santa Ana, and were taken into custody after police stormed their Surf Cove home. Yesterday in Pomona Superior Court, the three white men accused of attempted murder, assault, and hate crime against a black man in Claremont last year were convicted......