Police Arrest 26 Drunk-Driving Suspects
Police arrested 26 suspected drunk drivers Friday night and early Saturday during a holiday weekend crackdown in the San Fernando Valley, authorities said.
A task force of 30 Los Angeles police officers patrolled the northeast Valley in an effort to reduce the number of drunk-driving-related accidents, said Officer Lee Hamilton of the Valley Traffic Division. The operation, which began at 5 p.m. Friday and ended at 2 a.m. Saturday, netted 23 arrests, he said.
Police set up an immediate booking and release system at a fire station in the 10100 block of Osborne Street in Sun Valley to help process the offenders, he said. The system reduces booking time and allows officers to return to patrols more quickly, he said.
Three suspected drunk drivers were arrested at a sobriety checkpoint near Alameda Avenue and San Fernando Road, Burbank Police Lt. Don Brown said. “I think the word is out, ‘Keep out,’ ” Brown said, commenting on the low number of arrests.
Hamilton and Brown said no operations were planned Saturday night.
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