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Last Modified on Dec 15, 2025
Los Angeles DUI Statistics
Los Angeles is one of the largest and busiest cities in the entire United States. It’s also a city with a world-famous nightlife scene. This can, unfortunately, be a perfect recipe for DUI arrests. To understand Los Angeles DUI statistics, it’s important to look at drunk driving, alcohol related crashes, and DUI arrest trends.
Los Angeles DUI Statistics and Trends
California’s DUI laws set the legal limit for alcohol at 0.08%. Drug-related offenses do not yet have a numeric figure set in the law, so prosecutors and courts may have more latitude when deciding what constitutes a drug-related DUI. This means DUI cases can look quite different from one to the next.
Drunk driving incidents throughout California saw an impressive downward trend in the 2010s. In 2010, there were just under 200,000 DUI arrests in the state, resulting in nearly 150,000 convictions. By 2020, the number of arrests had plummeted, falling below 100,000 for the first time in over a decade. While the number of incidents and convictions steadily declined over this period, the conviction rate held relatively steady at around 70%–high enough to be a concern for anyone accused of DUI in California.
While the low numbers in 2020 can be attributed, to a certain extent, to the COVID-19 pandemic, the reduction in DUIs from 2010 to 2019 remains substantial. That year also saw an extremely sharp and unexpected rise in both alcohol- and drug-involved crash fatalities, jumping 7.6% and 28.9%, respectively.
While some may point to the rise in legalized cannabis as steering people away from alcohol use, it’s important to remember that driving while high on marijuana is just as illegal as driving drunk. In fact, drugs are implicated in 20 to 25% of all California roadway fatalities annually, which is nearly as many as alcohol (around 30%).
Los Angeles DUI Arrest and Crash Statistics
Statewide trends from the previous decade remain notable in California, but the bigger picture becomes somewhat more confusing. The total number of DUI arrests and DUI cases has more or less continued to decrease in LA year over year. Los Angeles DUI arrests increased by fewer than 200 from the “COVID year” 2020 to 2021, then continued to fall, with 500 fewer arrests in 2023 than in 2020, and preliminary data from 2024 and 2025 appear to follow this trend.
Surprisingly, the number of DUI-related crashes during that same period, however, increased dramatically. In 2019, the United States recorded a record low for DUI crashes nationwide. Los Angeles had about 1,000 DUI accidents, and had even fewer than that during 2020, when COVID reduced the number of vehicles on the road. The very next year, however, would see a shocking increase, with the number of drunk driving crashes more than doubling, and breaking the 2,000-crash mark.
Things did not improve much for Los Angeles in 2022 or 2023, with total DUI crashes remaining well above 1,500 each year. This resulted in an aggressive response from state and local authorities, with the city set to receive a $1 million “impaired driving prosecution” grant. These resources were allotted to the city’s emergent “Driving Under the Influence of Drugs Unit”, but it remains to be seen whether the grant can ultimately make roadways safer or simply increase the number of DUI prosecutions.
FAQs About Los Angeles, CA DUI Statistics
How Many DUI Arrests Happen in Los Angeles Each Year?
Los Angeles County averages about 18,000–22,000 DUI arrests annually. The City of Los Angeles alone accounts for roughly 5,500–7,000 of those. Arrest numbers dropped during the 2020 pandemic but have rebounded to pre-COVID levels, with weekends and holidays (especially July 4th and New Year’s Eve) seeing spikes of 30–50% above average.
Is California Tough on DUI?
California is tough on DUI, with some charges even reaching the felony level. DUI policing is well funded by the state’s criminal justice apparatus, and potential penalties for a DUI conviction may include large fines, a suspended license, mandatory counseling, or even time behind bars. If you have concerns about an upcoming DUI case, it’s advisable to contact a trusted Los Angeles DUI lawyer.
What Is the Most Common Time for DUI crashes in LA?
The deadliest window is Friday and Saturday nights between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m., when almost 60% of alcohol-related fatal crashes occur. The single highest-risk hour is 2–3 a.m. on Sunday mornings, right after bars close. Over 40% of all weekend fatal crashes in LA County involve a driver with a BAC greater than or equal to 0.08%.
What Are the Possible Penalties for DUI in Los Angeles?
In Los Angeles, first-time DUI penalties can include 96 hours to 6 months jail, $390–$1,000 fines plus fees, which can accrue up to $2000 or more, 6-month license suspension, 3–9 month alcohol program, and Ignition Interlock Device (IID) installation for 5 months or more. Second-offense penalties can include up to 1 year in jail, $1,000–$2,000 in fines, a 2-year suspension, and an 18-month alcohol program. Felony convictions can be even more severe.
What Should I Look for When Hiring a DUI Attorney in Los Angeles, CA?
When you hire a DUI attorney in Los Angeles, CA, prioritize extensive knowledge in California DUI laws, including chemical testing defenses, and DMV hearings. Check for a strong track record of dismissals or reductions, plus positive client reviews. Ensure they’re familiar with LA County courts for better outcomes. Consider a consultation prior to hiring to gauge responsiveness and affordability. Be sure to act fast, usually within days of your arrest, to protect your license.
DUI in LA? Hire a DUI Attorney – The Law Office of Daniel P. Flores
Getting thrown into the jaws of the California criminal justice system and the fast-moving Los Angeles courts can be a scary and confusing situation. Contact our California DUI defense attorney today for a swift and highly effective legal intervention.
Field Sobriety Tests in California Resources:
