With the help of funding from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, Arizona law-enforcement officers arrested a record number of DUI suspects.
Behind the crackdown are myriad state DUI task forces, including the West Valley DUI Task Force, which coordinates special-night and weekend DUI suppression efforts to nail those who drink and get behind the wheel.
The Governor's Office supplied funding that allowed police departments to pay officers overtime for DUI patrol work.
In Glendale, the West Valley DUI Task Force brought in its fair share of suspects. Ninety-five drunken-driving arrests were made in the West Valley's largest city between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, when experts say revelers are more likely to hit the road.
Because people attend more holiday parties and events, travel and alcohol consumption tends to jump. In a typical year, more than 1,000 people nationwide die in drunken-driving crashes between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, according to Mother's Against Drunk Driving.
As a whole, the West Valley DUI Task Force netted 338 individuals on suspicion of drunken driving during the holiday period.
Enforcement events were held on New Year's Eve and the days following Christmas and Thanksgiving. As expected, the task force on Dec. 31 netted the most suspects, 56.
Although the holidays are over, the West Valley DUI Task Force warns drunken drivers that it's not slowing down.
The task force uses regular enforcement and checkpoints in which patrol officers descend on an area to find drivers who appear to be impaired. Saturation efforts often target heavily trafficked areas with restaurants and bars, such as Westgate City Center and Peoria's entertainment corridor along 83rd Avenue.
Other agencies that participate in the task force include Peoria, Buckeye, Surprise, El Mirage, Tolleson, Goodyear, Avondale and Phoenix with help from the Department of Public Safety.
Many of the West Valley agencies have leftover funds, which they plan to funnel into DUI enforcement throughout the coming months.
Most recently, Peoria accepted $52,000 in grants from the Governor's Office for DUI enforcement and speed-enforcement education.
Alberto Gutier, director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, said the state has plans to increase its support for the West Valley DUI Task Force this year, providing overtime pay for Maricopa County Sheriff's Office corrections officers to help book and process suspects.
Source
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Pinal County, DUI Task Force receive highway grant
The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office and Pinal County Regional DUI Task Force have been awarded $103,220 to fund overtime for DUI enforcement and collision investigation training.
The Governor's Office of Highway Safety provided these funds to further support the continuance of the Pinal County Regional DUI Task Force and to help ensure those traveling the roadways of Pinal County are safer.
In addition to the overtime and enhanced training funding, GOHS awarded $27,500 to the Sheriff’s Office for the purchase of an additional motorcycle to support the growth of their motor unit whose purpose is public education and enforcement of traffic laws.
The Task Force, formed in March, has played an important role in removing many impaired drivers from Pinal County highways. Agencies participating in the Task Force include the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Casa Grande, Gila River, Apache Junction, Coolidge, Florence, Eloy, Ak-Chin and Maricopa Police Departments.
Since the Nov. 24 Pinal County Holiday DUI Task Force Kick Off, more than 160 people have been arrested for driving impaired. DUI Task Force saturation patrols will continue through the New Year weekend with a “zero tolerance" approach to impaired driving. Drivers found to be impaired by alcohol and/or drugs will be arrested and booked into the Pinal County Adult Detention Facility in Florence, AZ. Additionally, officers will be enforcing the "zero tolerance" policy toward underage drinking.
National statistics reveal that between Thanksgiving and New Year's 38 percent of all deaths from auto accidents are alcohol-related.
In 2008, 849 people were killed in Arizona in fatal crashes. Of those killed, 294 involved drivers who had a blood-alcohol concentration over the .08 limit. This represents almost 34 percent and does not account for drivers impaired by drugs.
“It is important for us, as law enforcement partners, to work together to educate the public and take a 'zero tolerance' approach when dealing with impaired drivers,” said Sheriff Paul Babeu.
“Gone are the days in Pinal County when a drunk driver is allowed to park their car or get a ride home after being stopped. When we catch someone driving drunk or impaired by drugs; they will be cuffed and taken to jail.”
Source
The Governor's Office of Highway Safety provided these funds to further support the continuance of the Pinal County Regional DUI Task Force and to help ensure those traveling the roadways of Pinal County are safer.
In addition to the overtime and enhanced training funding, GOHS awarded $27,500 to the Sheriff’s Office for the purchase of an additional motorcycle to support the growth of their motor unit whose purpose is public education and enforcement of traffic laws.
The Task Force, formed in March, has played an important role in removing many impaired drivers from Pinal County highways. Agencies participating in the Task Force include the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Casa Grande, Gila River, Apache Junction, Coolidge, Florence, Eloy, Ak-Chin and Maricopa Police Departments.
Since the Nov. 24 Pinal County Holiday DUI Task Force Kick Off, more than 160 people have been arrested for driving impaired. DUI Task Force saturation patrols will continue through the New Year weekend with a “zero tolerance" approach to impaired driving. Drivers found to be impaired by alcohol and/or drugs will be arrested and booked into the Pinal County Adult Detention Facility in Florence, AZ. Additionally, officers will be enforcing the "zero tolerance" policy toward underage drinking.
National statistics reveal that between Thanksgiving and New Year's 38 percent of all deaths from auto accidents are alcohol-related.
In 2008, 849 people were killed in Arizona in fatal crashes. Of those killed, 294 involved drivers who had a blood-alcohol concentration over the .08 limit. This represents almost 34 percent and does not account for drivers impaired by drugs.
“It is important for us, as law enforcement partners, to work together to educate the public and take a 'zero tolerance' approach when dealing with impaired drivers,” said Sheriff Paul Babeu.
“Gone are the days in Pinal County when a drunk driver is allowed to park their car or get a ride home after being stopped. When we catch someone driving drunk or impaired by drugs; they will be cuffed and taken to jail.”
Source
Sunday, February 28, 2010
DUI Task Force reports fewer arrests in 2009
While the number of DUI arrests in 2009 significantly increased in Arizona from the previous year, Graham County bucked the trend and had fewer DUI arrests over the New Year's holiday than last year.
The Eastern Arizona DUI Task Force conducted saturation patrols New Year's Eve and New Year's Day and reported a total of nine DUI arrests out of 131 stops, according to Thatcher Sgt. Scott Mulleneaux.
Last year, 15 arrests were made on 218 stops during three saturation patrols in December and early January. While the total number of arrests was higher in the 2008 deployments, the actual percentage of arrests to stops remained the same at about 7 percent for both years.
According to the Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety, Arizona's 16 DUI task forces made more than 14,000 DUI arrests in 2009, including nearly 4,500 from Thanksgiving to New Year's.
That is an increase from the 2008 numbers of about 10,500 arrests, with about 2,700 from Thanksgiving to New Year's.
What has increased in Graham County for 2009 is the usage of designated drivers. This year, officers noted 20 designated drivers out of the 131 stops with 16 designated drivers utilized out of 59 stops New Year's Eve.
"The increased use of designated drivers was very impressive," Mulleneaux said. "Our goal is to get zero DUIs and have all designated drivers (for those who have been drinking alcohol)."
He said it is apparent that message has reached a significant portion of Graham County's residents, and he is grateful they have taken the advice to heart.
This year, officers from the Safford, Thatcher, Pima and Clifton police departments joined officers from the Department of Public Safety to conduct the patrols. The task force is funded from a grant from the Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
Source
The Eastern Arizona DUI Task Force conducted saturation patrols New Year's Eve and New Year's Day and reported a total of nine DUI arrests out of 131 stops, according to Thatcher Sgt. Scott Mulleneaux.
Last year, 15 arrests were made on 218 stops during three saturation patrols in December and early January. While the total number of arrests was higher in the 2008 deployments, the actual percentage of arrests to stops remained the same at about 7 percent for both years.
According to the Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety, Arizona's 16 DUI task forces made more than 14,000 DUI arrests in 2009, including nearly 4,500 from Thanksgiving to New Year's.
That is an increase from the 2008 numbers of about 10,500 arrests, with about 2,700 from Thanksgiving to New Year's.
What has increased in Graham County for 2009 is the usage of designated drivers. This year, officers noted 20 designated drivers out of the 131 stops with 16 designated drivers utilized out of 59 stops New Year's Eve.
"The increased use of designated drivers was very impressive," Mulleneaux said. "Our goal is to get zero DUIs and have all designated drivers (for those who have been drinking alcohol)."
He said it is apparent that message has reached a significant portion of Graham County's residents, and he is grateful they have taken the advice to heart.
This year, officers from the Safford, Thatcher, Pima and Clifton police departments joined officers from the Department of Public Safety to conduct the patrols. The task force is funded from a grant from the Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
Source
Monday, February 15, 2010
Ariz. holiday period DUI arrests rise in 2009
Arizona’s 16 DUI task forces around the state made more than 14,000 driving-under-the-influence arrests in 2009 including nearly 4,500 from Thanksgiving to New Year’s.
Those figures are up from 2008 when the task forces made some 10,500 DUI arrests but only about 2,700 from the Thanksgiving-to-Jan. 1 holiday span.
Statistics released Jan. 1 by Gov. Jan Brewer’s office show that 960 DUI arrests for the holiday period were for extreme DUI with drivers having blood-alcohol levels of .15 or higher. That’s well above the 0.08 percent legal limit to operate a vehicle in Arizona.
The state tasks forces also report 194 DUI arrests for drivers under age 21 in the 2009 Thanksgiving-to-New Year’s period and 492 under-21 liquor law citations.
Source
Those figures are up from 2008 when the task forces made some 10,500 DUI arrests but only about 2,700 from the Thanksgiving-to-Jan. 1 holiday span.
Statistics released Jan. 1 by Gov. Jan Brewer’s office show that 960 DUI arrests for the holiday period were for extreme DUI with drivers having blood-alcohol levels of .15 or higher. That’s well above the 0.08 percent legal limit to operate a vehicle in Arizona.
The state tasks forces also report 194 DUI arrests for drivers under age 21 in the 2009 Thanksgiving-to-New Year’s period and 492 under-21 liquor law citations.
Source
Thursday, January 28, 2010
AZ DUI arrests increase
The number of D.U.I. arrests in Arizona were up in 2009 from 2008.
The state's 16 D.U.I. task forces made more than 14,000 D.U.I. arrests last year and about 5,000 of those arrests were just from Thanksgiving to New Year's alone.
Thats up from about 11,000 D.U.I. arrests made in 2008. Statistics released by the governor's office show 1,000 of those arrests were made for extreme D.U.I. where the drivers had blood-alcohol levels of .15 or higher.
Source
The state's 16 D.U.I. task forces made more than 14,000 D.U.I. arrests last year and about 5,000 of those arrests were just from Thanksgiving to New Year's alone.
Thats up from about 11,000 D.U.I. arrests made in 2008. Statistics released by the governor's office show 1,000 of those arrests were made for extreme D.U.I. where the drivers had blood-alcohol levels of .15 or higher.
Source
Monday, December 28, 2009
Police draw blood to stop DUI
Idaho police officers are trained to take blood directly from a suspected DUI offender at the scene of the arrest in an effort to crack down on drunk driving.
Officers in both Idaho and Texas recently received this training to draw blood to test for both alcohol and drugs in the system of an accused driver. The training is part of a federal program sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to determine if this can be used as a prosecution and prevention tool.
The NHTSA will test the results over a one to two year period, then they will perhaps encourage the training in other states or nationwide. The reason for the blood tests is the increase in breath test refusals among defendants.
Even in states with "implied consent" laws, many refuse breath tests on the field. Breath tests have also been notoriously inaccurate. Idaho saw as much as 20% refusal, and nationally about 22% of defendants refused breath tests.
Blood tests, on the other hand, are generally accurate in testing for both drugs and alcohol. Some states have issued legislation that allows for the drawing of blood by force if an accused driver is uncooperative. Idaho is one such state.
The Supreme Court ruled in 1966 that forced blood tests were constitutional given there was reasonable suspicion. The test, however, must be carried out in a medically-approved manner by a person who is trained in the practice. Officers often had to transport accused defendants to hospitals in order to accomplish this.
Arizona first implemented the training program to allow officers to draw blood in the field. Immediately, questions regarding the safety of this practice deterred many states from proceeding. Many claim officers do not receive the full training that nurses and other medical practitioners receive. The procedure is also carried out in an unsanitary environment.
Phoenix officers currently draw blood from 300 to 400 suspected individuals each month. According to sources, the Arizona refusal rate has dropped from around 20% to 8-9%. Arizona is considered to be one of the toughest states on DUI prosecution, and the ongoing practice of drawing blood on the field is just one technique Arizona uses that is being copied nationally.
Source
Officers in both Idaho and Texas recently received this training to draw blood to test for both alcohol and drugs in the system of an accused driver. The training is part of a federal program sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to determine if this can be used as a prosecution and prevention tool.
The NHTSA will test the results over a one to two year period, then they will perhaps encourage the training in other states or nationwide. The reason for the blood tests is the increase in breath test refusals among defendants.
Even in states with "implied consent" laws, many refuse breath tests on the field. Breath tests have also been notoriously inaccurate. Idaho saw as much as 20% refusal, and nationally about 22% of defendants refused breath tests.
Blood tests, on the other hand, are generally accurate in testing for both drugs and alcohol. Some states have issued legislation that allows for the drawing of blood by force if an accused driver is uncooperative. Idaho is one such state.
The Supreme Court ruled in 1966 that forced blood tests were constitutional given there was reasonable suspicion. The test, however, must be carried out in a medically-approved manner by a person who is trained in the practice. Officers often had to transport accused defendants to hospitals in order to accomplish this.
Arizona first implemented the training program to allow officers to draw blood in the field. Immediately, questions regarding the safety of this practice deterred many states from proceeding. Many claim officers do not receive the full training that nurses and other medical practitioners receive. The procedure is also carried out in an unsanitary environment.
Phoenix officers currently draw blood from 300 to 400 suspected individuals each month. According to sources, the Arizona refusal rate has dropped from around 20% to 8-9%. Arizona is considered to be one of the toughest states on DUI prosecution, and the ongoing practice of drawing blood on the field is just one technique Arizona uses that is being copied nationally.
Source
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Arizona DUI task force results in 546 arrests so far
PHOENIX – Police and DPS officers have arrested 546 people so far during the second week of the statewide Arizona Labor Day Task Force.
According to a news release provided by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, which is sponsoring the campaign, 72 of those arrests occurred Saturday night alone.
Twenty-five of those arrested Saturday night were cited for extreme DUI, which means they had an average blood alcohol content (BAC) of .15 or above. The legal limit in Arizona is .08.
Since the task force started last weekend, 191 people have been arrested for extreme DUI.
The average BAC since the beginning of the campaign is .160, twice the legal limit.
Nearly 2,100 people have been cited for other violations such as speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and improper lane change.
According to a news release provided by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, which is sponsoring the campaign, 72 of those arrests occurred Saturday night alone.
Twenty-five of those arrested Saturday night were cited for extreme DUI, which means they had an average blood alcohol content (BAC) of .15 or above. The legal limit in Arizona is .08.
Since the task force started last weekend, 191 people have been arrested for extreme DUI.
The average BAC since the beginning of the campaign is .160, twice the legal limit.
Nearly 2,100 people have been cited for other violations such as speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and improper lane change.
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