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Police report increase in arrests following extra enforcement

CRACKING DOWN: Tempe and ASU Police in partnership with the East Valley DUI Task Force are trying to educate students about irresponsible drinking habits. Over the past weekend both departments, including the DUI Task Force, reported 63 driving under the influence arrests. (Photo by Lisa Bartoli)
CRACKING DOWN: Tempe and ASU Police in partnership with the East Valley DUI Task Force are trying to educate students about irresponsible drinking habits. Over the past weekend both departments, including the DUI Task Force, reported 63 driving under the influence arrests. (Photo by Lisa Bartoli)

Tempe and ASU Police partnered with the East Valley DUI Task Force at the beginning of the semester to regulate underage drinking and drunk driving as well as set a tone for students to understand the repercussions of drinking irresponsibly.

This year’s push in enforcement netted an increase in arrests and citations, according to reports compiled by ASU Police Cmdr. Jim Hardina and Tempe Police Sgt. Steve Carbajal.

In total, ASU Police responded to 298 calls for loud parties and stops for DUI’s in the first weekend following classes, while Tempe Police responded to 394 calls and vehicle stops, according to the reports.

ASU Police recorded almost 200 citations for minor in consumption this past weekend while Tempe Police and the DUI Task Force recorded only 10 MICs, according to the reports.

“We had some pretty good result with the DUI Task Force but we’re still trying to get the word out how important it is to not drink and drive in Tempe and all through out Arizona,” Carbajal said.

Together both departments, including the DUI Task Force, reported 63 DUI arrests over the weekend.

Friday night was a statistically busy night for arrests by the DUI Task Force with 47 total DUIs, 10 of those being Extreme DUIs and eight of the 47 arrests being under the age of 21. Saturday was less busy with only eight DUI arrests by Tempe Police, according to the reports.

“One thing that I’ve seen is the average (blood alcohol content) seems to be a little higher, so that kind of tells me that people are having a little bit more to drink and then getting behind the wheel,” Carbajal said.

The average BAC of drinking violations for Friday night was .133 and Saturday night .149, according to the reports. BAC levels are determined by the amount of beers, the alcohol percentage of the beer, person’s weight and amount of time between beers, according to the reports.

Speech and hearing science junior Grace Turner said the extra enforcement made her feel uneasy.

“I kind of don’t want to go to house parties,” Turner said.

Though the increase in police enforcement was present, it did not keep Turner from attending a fraternity party over the weekend, which she would not name. Between the loud noise and alcohol at the party, Tempe police decided to stop by.

“A lot of people were there, it was really loud,” Turner said. “The cops showed up and busted it, but everyone just kind of ran out.”

Tempe police still wants people to have fun, specifically with large house parties, but encourages them to do so lawfully, Carbajal said.

Tempe Police received 210 loud noise and party complaints from Aug. 12 through 14, Carbajal said.

“(Students) have to be conscious of the people living around them,” Carbajal said.

 

Reach the reporter at sraymund@asu.edu


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