12/21/2009 11:01:00 PM
DUI checkpoints ahead:
Police have jailed 88 suspects since Thanksgiving
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Les Stukenberg/The Daily Courier
Prescott Valley police stop and question a suspect for driving under the influence early Saturday evening on Florentine Road between Glassford Hill and Lake Valley roads. The suspect was taken into custody and the vehicle towed. |
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By Lisa Irish
The Daily Courier
The Governor's Office on Highway Safety has a simple message for people celebrating with family and friends this season: "Drive hammered... get nailed."
Prescott-area law enforcement agencies have arrested 88 people on driving under the influence charges from Thursday, Nov. 26, through Sunday, Dec. 20, this year, said Alberto Gutier, director of the Governor's Office on Highway Safety. The task force continues until New Year's Eve, Gutier said.
"These officers have prevented at least 88 tragedies from happening," Gutier said. "The officers are trying to keep everyone safe."
Yavapai County Sheriff's deputies arrested 30 people on DUI charges, Prescott Valley police 27, Prescott 26 and Chino Valley five, since the holiday DUI task force kicked off Thanksgiving Day, Gutier said.
The Governor's Office on Highway Safety provides agencies with federal money for overtime for officers working on DUI enforcement, officer training, and equipment such as motorcycles to use in DUI enforcement, Gutier said.
"We will be putting more patrols on the streets at night to specifically target drunk driving through the holiday season," said Sgt. Brandon Bonney, public information officer and crisis negotiations supervisor for the Prescott Valley Police Department.
Chino Valley police as well as the Sheriff's Office will do the same.
"If they are drinking and driving, we will be out there in force," said Officer Brian Sanders, field training officer for the Chino Valley police.
"Deputies will concentrate on saturation patrols specifically to find and arrest DUI offenders," said Dwight D'Evelyn, media and crime prevention coordinator for the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office. "They tend to know the hot spots really well."
"Instead of risking DUI, people should use a designated sober driver, take a taxi or public transportation, or simply make a choice not to consume alcohol or drugs and drive," D'Evelyn said.
Prescott police will increase DUI enforcement patrols and also join Prescott Valley and Chino police departments in the Tri-City DUI task force, said Lt. Clayton Heath, public information officer with the Prescott Police Department.
This year officers arrested 3,074 people on DUI charges out of the 50,493 traffic stops officers initiated during the statewide holiday DUI task force, Gutier said.
"This time of year, people forget they shouldn't drink and drive," Gutier said. "They need to get a designated driver."
"For the first time this year, we're asking law enforcement to provide us with the number of sober designated drivers they come in contact with," Gutier said. "So far, we've counted 801 statewide."
Chino Valley police officers haven't seen a noticeable increase in DUIs during the holidays, but officers have arrested more people for extreme DUIs, Sanders said.
A person with an extreme DUI registers a blood alcohol content of 0.15 or above, nearly twice the blood alcohol content of 0.08 for a regular DUI, Sanders said.
That follows statewide trends, where the average blood alcohol content for people arrested is 0.157 during this holiday task force period, Gutier said.
In comparison, officers arrested 4,078 people on extreme DUI charges so far in 2009, with 3,302 in all of 2008, Gutier said.
"Most people we stop know they're in trouble and shouldn't be drinking and driving," Sanders said. "They're cooperative and understand the situation they're in."
The consequences for a first-time DUI offender include paying an estimated $1,800 in fines, additional court assessments, jail costs, costs to hire an attorney, increased auto insurance premiums, possible loss of employment, as long as 10 days in jail, five years probation, a 90-day driver's license suspension, and a vehicle ignition interlock device for a year, Gutier said.
"A DUI stays on your record for seven years," Gutier said. "If you're pulled over again for DUI, officers will see your previous DUI."
Extreme DUI or repeat offenses can lead to even more serious consequences, Gutier said.
A second DUI can lead to $3,500 in court fines, 90 days in jail, driver's license revoked for a year with no option for a work permit, five years probation, and a vehicle ignition interlock device for a year after the driver's license is reinstated, Gutier said.
"People don't think it will happen to them, well if you drink and drive, it will happen to you," Gutier said.
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Posted: Sunday, December 27, 2009
Article comment by:
Amanda G.
TO "ONLY GONNA GET WORSE": I have never written a letter for fear of further harassment. I strongly feel that once they have your name, there's no stopping them. (yes, I may be a bit paranoid) But the fact of the matter is..who are they going to believe/ A lowly citizen? Or one of their own officers?
Posted: Saturday, December 26, 2009
Article comment by:
trippetta
To all "sheepDOGS" Why not try being a little more like a shepherd guarding the flock and a little less like a dog & maybe you'd get some more respect!!! (I respect authority when it acts as a human, not like a Dog.)
Posted: Saturday, December 26, 2009
Article comment by:
ONLY GONNA GET WORSE
to all of you that are complaining about being pulled over and harrassed for no good reason. guess what? if we as citizens dont start making complaints and doing something about this its only gonna get worse.so if you can come on here and type im sure you can sit down and write a letter or how ever many it takes until someone takes a look at what these so called officers are doing.........
Posted: Thursday, December 24, 2009
Article comment by:
Amanda G.
GO RICHARD!!! I personally have been pulled over MULTIPLE times for "my license plate light being out"(never has been) and for air fresheners being in my rear view mirrors. EVERY SINGLE time i was accused of being under the influence of something. EVERY TIME i was let go, when they knew they couldn't pin anything on me. I always thought that these "officers" couldn't pull anyone over unless they had a reason to. Well..i will tell you all right now, it only takes that couple seconds when they are walking up to your car to think of some b.s. reason. Guilty until proven innocent, that's the way the PD rolls.
Posted: Thursday, December 24, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
'Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.' George Orwell
Posted: Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Article comment by:
Natalie
Officer Sheep Dog,
You scare me not because I have any malicious intent toward society; I never drink 'n drive or create a ruckus in public but honestly if I'm robbed or raped or find myself in a predicament in which I'll need police services you'll be there to write a police report. What frightens me is that you don't see your job as that of a servant you obviously see yourself as a protector but I think your general job description entails both serving and protecting and perhaps being jaded is merely a biprodcut of twenty years of herding us sheeple. Please do not misconstrue my statements as having any sort of antipolice sentiment it's just that when it comes to protecting myself and my family you cannot be depended upon until the aftermath so maybe you're onto something about that three day workweek after all I'll take a tax break in any form.
Posted: Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Article comment by:
Jim
It is high time that people stop drinking at bars and any other serving places. One drink, yes, one drink can send you to the courts.
One does not need to be near .08 to be charged. Send a message to the legislators. Save yourself, save your money. Actually I am more concerned about the about 100,000 people who die from malpractice, and errors in the medical field. But that appears to be ok.
Posted: Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Article comment by:
A Sheep
Thanks officers for all you do. Keep up the good work. Just remember, the vast majority of us sheep do appreciate you being on guard 24/7.
Posted: Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Article comment by:
Ask the right questions.......
Ask the right darn question. "Sir, have you been drinking tonight?". Hell yes, I drink every night and day. I drink Tea, Coffee, Water and Sodas. Oh, you mean Alcohol? Then ask me that. If you ask me if I have been drinking, the answer is yes. We all need to drink to survive. but then these people are cops are probably dont understand that little fact of life.
Posted: Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
hey sheepdog - Fending for myself sounds like a good idea to me seems i do it everyday all by myself
Posted: Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Article comment by:
Richard
DRUNK TILL PROVEN SOBER! I was pulled over this week and repeatedly asked how many did I have to drink today
explained i never drink still made to do all the test even 0.0 on the breathalizer and asked again how many drinks today. finally released with a warning for swerving and told "I didnt see you do it but someone phoned in a half mile back seen u swerving" so am I to understand these D.U.I. check points are drunk till proven sober stops?
Posted: Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Article comment by:
Tom #186
Good job men and women. Those are awesome numbers, keep it up. You now they are always going to be out there, they will never learn. Just wish I was out there with you guys. Be safe all.
Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Article comment by:
Fellow Sheepdog
The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, cannot and will not ever harm the sheep. Any sheepdog who intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. The world cannot work any other way, at least not in a representative democracy or a republic such as ours.
Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. They would prefer that he didn’t tell them where to go, or give them traffic tickets, or stand at the ready in our airports in camouflage fatigues holding an M-16. The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go, “Baa.”
Until the wolf shows up. Then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely sheepdog.
(From the book, On Combat, by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman)
Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Article comment by:
Dumb!
To all you folk complaining about Overtime and money, guess what Most all of these DUI details are paid for by the Governors Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). The guys that work these details are usually taking time out of their time with their family to work this. Yes you are right they are getting OT for it, but in these days it's about the only OT they are getting. Quit your complaining unless you are going to put on a Badge and do it yourself! To the pot head guess what, it's also illegal to be high and drive also and usually any state you look at concerning DUI's includes Drugged driving and actually more common now (Site administrator's note: A portion of this comment was removed because it violated our Terms of Use Agreement)
Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Article comment by:
A Sheep
Baaaaa! Great idea! That way you could sit at home all day long and power trip on your family. Baaaa! Maybe even kick the dog around too! Baaaaa!
Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
"Bonus Time" these saturation patrols are planned ahead of time and are part of the budget. All agencies allow a certain amount of overtime in their budgets due to emergency situations, arrests going over shift times, subpeonas to court, etc. They also utilize volunteers when they do these saturation patrols. You should do some research before you open your yapper.
Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Article comment by:
To the REAL police officers.
So Sheep Dog what would that do to the rest of us who actually support the police other than make us bitter also? Somehow I doubt you are a cop, with your attitude if you are "god help us all" as we need it.
Now to the REAL police...Thank you and stay safe, many of us appreciate what you do.
Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Article comment by:
So true!
Bravo! I get so tired of hearing people bash law enforcement for doing their job, only to turn around and wail and moan when there isn't one (LEO) there fast enough to take their complaint about whatever it is that they are complaining about that day...
Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Article comment by:
Eric Krist
This should be a no brainer. What will all of you who are thinking about costs say when or if someone you care about is killed or badly injured by a drunk or drugged out driver. The problem is no one thinks it will happen to them. Come on be responsible for your actions and DON’T DRIVE DRUNK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Wow, I knew there had to be a pot head posting on this one. Why don’t you people give it up? DUI doesn’t mean Alcohol; it means Driving Under the Influence. That means any substance not just Alcohol. If you would take your face out of the BONG you would know this. Check the stats again when you get out of that haze you are in.
Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Article comment by:
Sheep Dog
As a police officer for over 20 years, I would not only welcome but encourage several days a week where no police officers work at all. We could then spend the holidays, birthdays, anniversaries etc., with our families. These days could be advertised so that all the drunks who drive and all the criminals who prey would have free days. Those of you who have nothing to do but sit around and criticize police officers for enforcing the laws you as citizens and voters have passed an enacted would then have to fend for yourselves. This would save hundreds of thousands if not millions of your tax dollars and would allow the sheep to care for themselves for once.
Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Article comment by:
Bonus time
So they find a DUI on one out of 16 routine traffic stops doing this? What they don't tell you is how much it cost to stop 50,500 cars at night officers working overtiime this year. It bet it's a real lot of money to do that. It's a good thing that there's a lot of money floating around out there to pay overtime. Nice Christmas bonus!
Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
*Facepalm* To Prescott truth, yeah but it would be like an increase of like a billion fender benders a year. On top of all the alcohol related DUIs,… and besides, I doubt all the pot related accidents would be fender benders.
Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Article comment by:
Good option
Coors, the beer company, is sponsoring free taxi rides here in Prescott from bars back to your home for the holiday period. Take advantage of it! Put the number of the cab co. in your phone and dial-a-ride! But at least remember to tip your cab driver!
Posted: Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Article comment by:
Had Enuff Drunken Stupidity
Keep making the same old lame excuses. If you drink/drug and drive, go directly to jail. If you want to be stupid, be prepared to pay the price. One DUI could cost you $7000. Is that cheaper than a taxi? Do the math.
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