While most students from Tempe high schools and ASU celebrate the end of the school year, Tempe Police will increase officers on patrol starting Wednesday and ending May 6, according to a Tempe Police media release.
The Arizona Department of Liquor Control, ASU, the Arizona Department of Highway Safety, and Tempe Police are partners in this year’s annual enforcement campaign, according to the release.
Although there will be more officers throughout Tempe, most will be positioned in Tempe’s downtown district, spokeswoman Molly Enright said.
With proms and graduations occurring at the end of the school year, Arizona’s law enforcement agencies want to prevent alcohol violations through education and awareness, Enright said.
“We want to bring attention to the dangers of underage drinking, no matter where it takes place,” Enright said.
ASU Police Cmdr. Jim Hardina said the parties in Tempe typically occur at the Vue and Vista Del Sol apartments near Apache Boulevard and Rural Road.
“We find a lot of places near campus have more underage drinking,” Hardina said.
Tempe Police Cmdr. Kim Hale said alcohol violations and out-of-control parties usually result in other crimes as well.
“Fights, disturbing the peace, underage drinking, assaults and sexual assaults often spill over from alcohol,” Hale said.
Alberto Gutier, director of the Arizona Department of Highway Safety, said there were 27,000 DUI arrests in Arizona for 2011 and about 2,700 were extreme DUIs. He said the reporting of such a high number looks bad, but it helped prevent accidents.
“Even though the number of arrests went up, we prevented a lot of tragedies,” Gutier said. “That’s our message to drunk driver because that saves lives.”
Cinco de Mayo takes place the weekend of ASU’s commencement and there will be about 800 to 1,000 police officers patrolling Tempe that night, Gutier said.
Residents and students should celebrate responsibly, Gutier said.
He said there are plenty of alternatives to drinking and driving.
“Sleep it off, take the light rail or walk home,” Gutier said.
Reach the reporter at sraymund@asu.edu
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