Police arrest 9 during sweep targeting ‘high-risk’ drivers

Glendale police arrested nine people during a grant-funded operation targeting “high-risk” drivers who skipped court after facing charges for driving recklessly, under the influence or with a suspended license, authorities said.

In teams, a couple dozen officers sought 24 people with outstanding arrest warrants, finding and arresting nine people in Glendale, Burbank and Tujunga who either failed to show up for a court date or violated the terms of their probation, according to Glendale police spokeswoman Tahnee Lightfoot.

“We want to get out there as much as we can to get the message out there that drunk driving is dangerous,” Lightfoot said.

The operation was part of a wider crackdown on drunk drivers in Glendale. On the heels of the warrant operation, Glendale police on Saturday night will be conducting a DUI and driver’s license checkpoint.

Between 7 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 a.m. Sunday, officers will be screening drivers at an undisclosed location, checking for signs of impairment as well as for valid driver’s licenses.

Also this summer, Glendale police unveiled an out-of-service patrol car painted so that half of it resembles a taxi cab, while the other half looks like a patrol car. It has been or will be on display at community events, checkpoints and even car shows with the message: “Choose your ride.”

Officials hope the car will serve as a deterrent, causing drivers to think twice about getting behind the wheel while impaired.

“If they make the wrong choice, they can get a $15,000 fine,” Lightfoot said, adding that a taxi ride home costs roughly $20. “That’s a much better choice.”

Through June of this year, Glendale police have arrested 248 people on suspicion of drunk driving, according to statistics released by the agency.

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Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @atchek