Are DUI Checkpoints Concentrated in Minority Neighborhoods?

Many in the greater Los Angeles area may believe that the recent crackdowns on DUI drivers are a very good thing. In some ways, it is. It gets people under the influence of alcohol off the road and keeps people safe.

What isn’t discussed, and yet many may also suspect that the Los Angeles Police Department’s crackdowns are more concentrated in South L.A. In the communities that make up the largest proportion of neighborhoods, the areas are impoverished, and made mostly of minorities. A DUI arrest - convicted or not means that the person arrested will on average pay $16,000 in fees. In an area where the average median income is $28,555 - that is essentially half of that person’s salary for the year.

In a recent article in the LA Weekly, it alleges that checkpoints and patrols that are meant to ensnare suspects for various violations such as outstanding warrants, fix-it tickets can end up ballooning to a major ordeal of effectively ending that person’s having a license at all. For low-income residents, not having a vehicle and facing various fines can end their career and send their life into a tailspin.

The article also said that during the investigation, there were no instances of when similar checkpoint operations occurred in predominantly white or more affluent incomes located mostly in West Los Angeles such Bel Air, Benedict Canyon, Beverly Hills, Pacific Palisades and other similar neighborhoods.

Data confirms that most of the checkpoints for DUI and other violations in 2015 at approximately 30 did take place in greater South L.A. Most of these neighborhoods are predominantly black and Latino and are on average 29 percent white. Sometimes the LAPD will publicize just prior to establishing a checkpoint. At other times, they don’t give a warning. Check out the rest of the LA Weekly article here for further details.

We are brought up believing that the law is equal for everyone regardless of who they are. Statistics show, however, that sometimes a person can be wrongly accused of driving under the influence or other crimes simply based on being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Police and law enforcement offers are sworn to protect and to serve, but sometimes mistakes can be made in terms of a DUI arrest.

A conviction of DUI, as you can see, doesn’t come cheap. A DUI arrest by itself can mean jail time, loss of income and even the loss of your job. If you are convicted, that can equal heavy fines, higher insurance rates, losing that insurance altogether or losing your driver’s license, too! For many, the loss of a license means they are no longer able to work or find another job as easily as they might if they had one. Such a situation can create a real hardship for a person and their family and leave them cash strapped for a long time to come.

If you or someone you love is facing the charge of DUI or other drug or alcohol-related charge in the Los Angeles area, that’s when you need an attorney who will fight for your rights.

You don’t have to simply accept and plead guilty of the charges being made against you. Legally, you can fight your DUI charge with someone who will ensure your rights are protected. Contact us today 818-294-7106 to schedule a free consultation and legal analysis.