By JOSHUA PIPERSTEINA, Associated Press holiday drinks in handcuffs?
No more holiday drinking in cuff and handcuffs.
Law enforcement officers on holiday can now ask for a driver’s license and proof of identity and get a search warrant for any vehicle.
The change came after a California judge ruled that law enforcement officers had a “legitimate and legitimate purpose” to look for a suspect in a case in which the driver of a stolen car had a criminal record and the driver had an outstanding warrant for a felony charge.
The changes were first reported by the Los Angeles Times and were announced by the California Highway Patrol on Monday.
The department has issued about 7,300 citations for driving while intoxicated or impaired, which is the second-highest total in the nation, according to the Associated Press.
The law enforcement agencies said they were “committed to providing safe holiday activities.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney in Los Angeles said the change had nothing to do with the recent shooting of a man by an officer in California.
The law enforcement agency said the shooting occurred on a highway that had a high number of crashes.
The AP’s Joseph Fite reports from Las Vegas.