Holiday DUI arrests down in L.A. County, authorities say

The number of DUI arrests made in Los Angeles County during the holiday season is down compared with last year, authorities said.

Officers from about 100 agencies arrested 1,773 people for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs between Dec. 14 and Dec. 29, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.

Although officials stressed the number was only initial, as some agencies have yet to report their totals, it was down from the 2,205 DUI arrests reported during the same time period in 2011.

Additional DUI checkpoints and patrols would take place on New Year's Eve, the Sheriff's Department said.

Statewide, the California Highway Patrol said 1,170 DUI arrests were recorded between Dec. 21 and Dec. 25, compared with 980 in the same period in 2011. Fatalities during that period were 39, compared to 14 in 2011.

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— Kate Mather

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Photo: San Bruno police officers stop cars at a DUI checkpoing in 2006. Credit: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images