An additional 70 to 80 Tempe police officers will be on duty this weekend as part of the police department's back-to-school safety campaign.
The campaign is designed to promote and enforce safety in Tempe, with a focus on alcohol-related violations.
"The goals are to educate students on the current alcohol laws and then enforce those laws," said Tempe police spokesman Brandon Banks.
Driving under the influence, underage drinking, fake ID use, consuming alcohol in public and pedestrian-safety awareness are some of the specific focus areas of the campaign.
In order to enforce the safety laws, more police will be on duty this weekend. Banks said there are typically 30 to 40 Tempe officers on duty on a typical weekend; however, there should be approximately 100 to 120 officers on duty from Aug. 25-27.
Banks said the additional officers would come from other Maricopa County cities to help Tempe with its safety campaign.
"It is common for police departments to help each other out," Peoria police spokesman Mike Tellef said. "Tempe helps us out sometimes as well."
ASU is working with Tempe police in order to educate students, Banks said.
Stephanie Salazar, ASU community outreach liaison, said the University distributed information regarding safety and alcohol-related laws to freshmen during Passport to ASU, a freshman welcome event.
Salazar also plans to make the information available to all students in the residence halls.
"I think increasing awareness is good because not everyone knows the penalties of a DUI," said Megan Hildebrand, a computer information systems freshman.
Banks said a cable television show produced by Tempe police, "Street Beat," will also focus on back-to-school safety this month. The show airs daily on cable channel 11.
Next weekend's increased police presence is being received favorably by at least two Mill Avenue bars.
"I think it is a good thing," said Kevin Metz, manager of Rula Bula. "It will help keep the streets safer and will be better for everybody."
Sarah Krajnak, manager of The Library Bar and Grill, said the increase police presence would promote general safety.
"Public safety is very important, and it will be better for the students that live and work in Tempe," Krajnak said.
Some ASU students are also in favor of the increased police presence to catch people who commit DUI.
"I drive down here, so if there are more cops around, I'll feel safer," business sophomore Ashley Forsyth said.
Political science junior Gabriel Marquez agrees more police in Tempe during the first weekend of school is a good idea.
"I'm a motorcycle rider and I see the most dangerous drivers on the road during Labor Day weekend and the first weekend back from school," Marquez said. "If there are more cops on the road, I am happy about it."
The increased police presence is a good step toward reducing DUIs, said Adam Billings, an undeclared junior.
But he was skeptical it would deter all students.
"People won't stop drinking, but they'll think twice before drinking and driving," Billings said.
"It's a good idea, but I don't know if it will have an impact," said Tracy Esposito, a speech and hearing science sophomore. "It may help a few people, but not everyone."
Ericka Espino, manager of development for Mothers Against Drunk Driving of Arizona, said she supported Tempe police's safety efforts.
She said alcohol-related fatalities in Arizona have increased from 435 in 2004 to 492 in 2005.
Espino said that in order to reduce DUIs and DUI fatalities, the designated driver should not be the person who had the least amount to drink, but the person who had nothing to drink.
The ASU Department of Public Safety made 395 alcohol-related arrests during the 2005 spring and fall semesters and 214 arrests this spring.
Reach the reporter at Jeffrey.Mitchell@asu.edu.
