Arizona DUI Task Force: Nearly 1,000 Arrests And Counting

During the two weeks after Thanksgiving, nearly 1,000 drivers were arrested for DUI in Arizona, according to recent reports.  Police credit the efforts of the DUI Task Force that is deployed each year and averages 4,000 arrests during that time. Since November 25, there have been more than 18,000 stops by these officers.  Out of these stops, police have identified 971 drivers who were allegedly operating their vehicles under the influence of alcohol, including 251 who may qualify for “extreme” DUI charges. What Is The Arizona DUI Task Force? The DUI Task Force is made up of nearly 3,000 officers whose primary focus is identifying and arresting drivers who are under the influence.  However, these police officers also write other citations such as speeding tickets or seat-belt violation tickets. Since the beginning of the year, more than 23,000 drivers have been arrested during DUI enforcement periods.  Not all of these arrests were made by the DUI Task Force, but the Task Force accounts for the majority of all DUI arrests in the state. Is The DUI Task Force Required to Post Its Location? The DUI Task Force is required to inform the public of its location every weekend in December and during other times designated as an “enforcement period.”  Generally, these periods coincide with times that are traditionally ripe for DUI arrests such as holiday weekends.  Labor Day, Fourth of July, Memorial Day and the Christmas season are all examples. However, the DUI Task Force is not required to post or announce every time it meets or deploys officers in various areas.  The simple fact is that members of the DUI Task Force could be around at any time.  Even if they are not, “regular” police officers usually are.  Driving drunk may, ultimately, result in an arrest no matter what the time of year. What Should I Do If I Am Apprehended? There is a great deal of confusion over the rights of those who are pulled over for DUI.  Do you have to submit to a blood test?  What if your blood test shows less than .08 percent alcohol?  Can you still be charged with DUI? The best way to answer these questions is to consult a DUI attorney like the ones at Oswalt Law Group.  A DUI attorney may be able to help you understand your rights and ways to handle a charge successfully.