Watch out, would-be drunk drivers. Local law enforcement is going high-tech.
The Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station has acquired a new state-of-the-art mobile police station aimed at improving efficiency through the use of the latest technological advancements. Formally called the DUI Mobile Enforcement Unit, the station looks a little like a fancy RV out of a Sylvester Stallone movie. It was purchased for $113,000 with grant funding procured by Los Angeles County Third District Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky.
Intended to serve all of Third District communities, the unit is also expected to aid the Operation Safe Canyons program, which was started by a group of local, county and state agencies six years ago after numerous complaints about street racing in the Santa Monica Mountains.
A brief glance inside the trailer reveals some of the latest in police technology, including computers with access to law enforcement databases, video recording and monitoring equipment, direct radio communications and a flat screen TV to monitor news reports.
“One of the main advantages of the DUI unit is that it allows us to prebook anybody we’re going to arrest,” said Traffic Sgt. Phil Brooks. “The department gets the whole package of paperwork done here and can then transport the individual to jail.”
Direct radio communications on both the dispatch and tactical channels in the unit allow deputies to monitor what’s going on back at the station, and also lets them know if they need to respond to an emergency somewhere else.
“It’s night and day compared to what it used to be, having someone here at the desk to enter the data, and not having to get in and out of the police car all the time to check drivers’ licenses on the computer,” Brooks said. “The office also allows staff to complete paperwork on arrests, citations and vehicle impounds.”
Four video cameras operate continuously to record everything going on outside the DUI unit, with one camera mounted on each corner. Brooks said they record all field sobriety tests so that in any future court case, “the jury can see the level of impairment.”
Because most of the checkpoints occur at night, the unit is equipped with high intensity exterior lighting, including one bright light on a long, telescoping arm.
When asked if the new DUI mobile enforcement unit means more DUI checkpoints in Malibu’s future, Brooks said probably not. The checkpoints are funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and based on a community’s need. He explained that Malibu already has more than other nearby communities because it has “a higher incidence of DUIs and DUI crashes” and has a state highway as its main street. However, locals will likely see the unit used for increased motorcycle enforcement on Mulholland Highway.
In order to qualify for OTS grants, deputies must have ARIDE (Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement) training, which prepares them to recognize the symptoms of impaired drivers. “Alcohol isn’t number one; it’s a combination,” Brooks said. “Alcohol is often used along with medical marijuana or prescription drugs that people shouldn’t be driving on, like Vicodin or Ambien. It’s poor decision making.”
The Sheriff ’s Department feels that the mere presence of the DUI mobile unit serves a purpose even if no arrests are made, because it reminds people that impaired driving has consequences. “Even if no arrests are made, it’s not a failure of the checkpoint,” said Brooks. “It educates the public as to the dangers of drinking and driving.”
During the inaugural checkpoint’s seven hours of operation earlier this month, a total of 1,368 vehicles passed through the intersection at Pacific Coast Highway and John Tyler Drive. The result was seven sobriety tests, five arrests for suspected DUI, 12 driver’s license citations, two arrests not involving DUI and seven vehicles being impounded.
The October 26 unveiling ceremony at the Malibu/Lost Hills station was attended by City Manager Jim Thorsen and City Councilmember Skylar Peak, where Peak expressed appreciation to law enforcement agencies on behalf of Malibu. “Drunk driving is something we all see on a regular basis on PCH, and we’re grateful to have this new resource in our area,” he said.
At the same ceremony, Yaroslavsky hailed the new DUI unit as “a lifesaving tool to help put a check on reckless drivers who drink too much and drive through our canyon and mountain communities, risking the lives of residents and visitors alike.”
