Nearly 2,000 Arrested for DUI in L.A. County Over Winter Holiday

Nearly 2,000 people were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Los Angeles County during the winter holiday season, according to the Sheriff's Department.

From 12:01 a.m. Dec. 14 through midnight Sunday, 1,913 arrests were made by officers representing 100 county law enforcement agencies, the department reported.

While the numbers represent fewer arrests than the 2,433 made during the same 17-day period in 2011, officers said the statistics are preliminary, and may grow -- particularly with tonight's New Year's Eve celebrations.

Law enforcement agencies across the county stressed that they will continue to monitor traffic closely for DUI offenses through thew New Year's holiday.

Multiple DUI checkpoints, multi-agency task force operations and local, roving DUI patrols will be operating during the Maximum Enforcement Period ending at midnight Tuesday, authorities said.

Meanwhile, no traffic deaths were reported in Los Angeles County over the 60-hour New Year's holiday weekend between 6:01 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. today, the California Highway Patrol announced.

L.A. County saw two traffic deaths over the same period last year, the report said.

Statewide, 14 people were killed in traffic mishaps, compared to 18 for the same period a year ago, a 22 percent decrease, according to the CHP.