The top eight DUI checkpoint locations in Los Angeles include Hollywood Blvd & Vine St. and Sunset Blvd near West Hollywood, and they are chosen based on crash data, DUI arrest trends, and traffic patterns.
Law enforcement agencies analyze historical data to identify high-risk areas where impaired driving is likely to occur, especially on weekends and holidays.
If you’re driving through LA at night, particularly near popular nightlife corridors or during high-enforcement periods, there’s a good chance you’ll encounter a sobriety checkpoint. Understanding how these locations are selected and where they tend to appear most often can help you avoid legal trouble.
If you’re already facing DUI charges, legal representation is essential to protecting your rights and challenging the validity of checkpoint procedures. A Los Angeles DUI lawyer can help you through your DUI charge.
1. Hollywood Blvd & Vine St
This iconic Hollywood intersection is surrounded by bars, restaurants, and music venues, making it a natural magnet for late-night activity. Tourists, partygoers, and local traffic combine to create a constant flow of potential enforcement opportunities.
Police return to this area frequently because of its high DUI arrest history and pedestrian traffic. The location’s visibility also allows officers to conduct large-scale operations without causing significant traffic disruption, which is key to running checkpoints legally and effectively.
If you’re stopped and arrested at one of these sites, speaking with a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer can be a critical step toward protecting your rights and examining how the checkpoint was conducted.
For a free legal consultation, call (310) 896-2723
2. Sunset Blvd near West Hollywood
Sunset Boulevard, especially near the West Hollywood Strip, is one of the busiest nightlife corridors in LA. Clubs stay open late, drawing drivers who may underestimate their level of impairment after a night out.
It’s a hotspot because:
- Alcohol–related crashes have been documented here repeatedly.
- Checkpoint visibility deters behavior even when stops aren’t active.
- Multiple access points allow for efficient rerouting and enforcement.
Because of its layout and activity levels, Sunset is one of the most visible and effective deterrent zones in the city.
3. Sepulveda Blvd near LAX
Heavy traffic, travel stress, and alcohol consumption often converge along Sepulveda Boulevard near LAX. The road services travelers heading to and from the airport and is surrounded by hotels, rental car lots, and freeway on-ramps.
This area is selected due to its volume and the presence of drivers unfamiliar with California DUI laws. Checkpoints near the airport are typically set up during holiday travel windows because there’s a higher risk of impaired or fatigued driving on unfamiliar roads.
4. Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) through Malibu
Winding through one of LA’s most scenic stretches, the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu is more than just a beautiful drive. It’s also a frequent checkpoint zone, especially near beaches and roadside bars.
Targeting the Coastal Corridor
Officers often choose this route because:
- DUI-related crashes have occurred on its sharp turns.
- Tourists driving unfamiliar rental cars increase enforcement focus.
- It offers minimal alternate routing, reducing checkpoint avoidance.
The PCH allows enforcement teams to monitor traffic safely while covering a high-risk, high-speed corridor.
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5. Crenshaw Blvd in Baldwin Hills
Crenshaw Boulevard is a major connector between South LA and mid-city, running through residential areas, shopping centers, and freeway access points. It’s especially active during Friday night commutes and weekend event hours.
Due to its combination of nightlife proximity and previous DUI incidents, Crenshaw is a frequent choice for LAPD checkpoint operations. Its long stretches and wide intersections provide space for multi-lane stops, while traffic density keeps enforcement efforts productive.
6. Sherman Way in Van Nuys
Sherman Way cuts across the San Fernando Valley and serves as a connector for several major neighborhoods. With late-night restaurants, dive bars, and commercial zones lining the street, it’s often targeted during evening hours.
Checkpoints along Sherman Way are typically tied to DUI saturation patrols in the Valley. The layout gives officers the visibility needed to monitor driving behavior in advance and allows them to set up efficient stops without major delays to east–west traffic.
7. Whittier Blvd in East Los Angeles
Whittier Boulevard is a historically active DUI checkpoint zone in East LA. The street runs through busy commercial districts and community gathering spaces, remaining crowded well into the night.
It’s routinely selected for several reasons, such as:
- Past enforcement efforts here have resulted in consistent arrests.
- Large parking lots and wide medians support safe checkpoint staging.
- It’s a corridor flagged in multiple county traffic safety studies.
Officers also prioritize this area during local festivals or major holiday weekends, when alcohol-related incidents tend to rise.
8. San Fernando Road in Pacoima
Running through Pacoima and surrounding neighborhoods, San Fernando Road sees a mix of industrial traffic, local commuters, and event-driven evening crowds. Its infrastructure and layout make it a practical choice for frequent enforcement.
Police select this corridor because of its documented DUI history and high visibility. The road provides multiple vantage points and staging options for officers, allowing them to monitor driver behavior long before they initiate a stop.
What Might Happen at a DUI Checkpoint
When you enter a DUI checkpoint in Los Angeles, officers typically stop vehicles using a neutral pattern, such as every third or fifth car. You may be asked to provide your license and registration and respond to a few brief questions.
During this exchange, officers watch for signs of impairment, including slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, or the smell of alcohol. If there are no obvious concerns, you will likely be waved through in less than a minute.
However, if the officer observes behavior that suggests you may be under the influence, you could be directed to a secondary screening area. There, you might be asked to perform a field sobriety test or take a preliminary breath test. Refusing a chemical test after arrest may result in automatic penalties, including a suspended license.
Arrested at a DUI Checkpoint? Call Simmrin Law Group Today
If you were stopped at one of the top DUI checkpoint locations in Los Angeles, how that checkpoint was chosen and operated could be critical to your defense. Law enforcement must follow strict legal procedures when selecting and conducting sobriety stops. If those standards weren’t met, we may be able to challenge the entire case against you.
At Simmrin Law Group, we understand how DUI checkpoints are chosen, how evidence is collected, and where police conduct often falls short. With thousands of clients successfully defended, our team is ready to represent you in any court in California or any federal court across the United States.
Call us today for a free consultation and let our team start building your defense the right way.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form