The LAPD is deploying DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols across the San Fernando Valley this week, with operations in Canoga Park, Panorama City, Valley Glen and Sherman Oaks affecting Northridge-area drivers.
The is rolling out a series of DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols across the San Fernando Valley beginning Tuesday night, with several operations landing directly in Northridge and surrounding neighborhoods.
The enforcement push targets areas with a history of impaired driving crashes and arrests, according to the LAPD. Officers will also check for valid driver licenses during stops.
"The Los Angeles Police Department reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol," department officials said in a written release. "Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal."
The LAPD laid out the full schedule for the week. Three checkpoints and multiple saturation patrols will impact the San Fernando Valley, including areas near Northridge.
The stakes for drivers caught impaired are steep. According to the LAPD, a first-time DUI charge carries an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, plus a suspended driver license.
The checkpoints at Roscoe and Topanga Canyon in Canoga Park and Roscoe and Noble Avenue in Panorama City are closest to Northridge residents. The Van Nuys Division saturation patrols on Thursday and Friday also cover Sherman Oaks and Valley Glen, neighborhoods bordering Northridge to the south.
Northridge drivers should expect increased police presence on major thoroughfares throughout the week, even outside the specific checkpoint locations.
This article was generated with AI assistance.