If you're hanging out in Tempe for the long weekend, know that the Tempe party patrol will be listening.
The Tempe police party patrol will be especially active Friday and Saturday nights for the next three months, including this weekend, said Sgt. Dan Masters.
The patrol aims to enforce a city ordinance that expressly prohibits "unnecessary, excessive and annoying noises from all sources."
Included in that are ASU students having loud parties that rouse the neighbors.
"If we receive a call about a noise at a party, an officer is dispatched, and the home or apartment owner is issued a written warning," Masters said.
"If officers have to return to the scene within 12 hours of the initial complaint, a fine of $250 to $1,000 may be assessed," he added.
Though ASU police will not increase the number of patrols on campus over the weekend, ASU officers will assist an East Valley task force out to catch drunken drivers.
"It takes six months to train an officer for patrol, so we don't hire additional officers for the Labor Day weekend," said ASU spokesman Keith Jennings.
Tempe, Chandler, Mesa and Scottsdale police hope to keep noise to a minimum and the streets clear of drunk drivers.
The departments make up the East Valley DUI task force.
As part of the force, Tempe officers will have an increased presence on local streets over the weekend, Masters said.
Tempe police participated in the task force last year and arrested 53 people for DUI and 12 underage drinkers.
The average blood-alcohol content for those arrested was measured at .16, twice the legal limit.
No roadside checkpoints will be established, but any vehicle seen weaving, making illegal lane changes or speeding will be pulled over.
Individuals suspected of driving under the influence may be asked to submit to questioning and a field sobriety test while stopped for a routine traffic violation, Masters said.
Drivers of vehicles involved in accidents may also be subject to field sobriety tests.
Reach the reporter at kelly.vaughn@asu.edu.
