220 Arrested by DUI TaskForce in Phoenix

PHOENIX July 5, 2009 -- A statewide DUI task force has netted 220 suspected drunk drivers so far over the holiday weekend.The Governor's Office of Highway Traffic Safety said 325 officers and deputies participated in the statewide task force.At least 70 drivers were arrested for extreme DUI, 29 for aggravated driving under the influence and 191 for misdemeanor DUI.At least 19 underage drivers were arrested for DUI.

Since Thursday, various police agencies have made 2,713 traffic stops.Law enforcement officers will be conducting saturation patrols, sobriety checkpoints and youth alcohol enforcement statewide through the weekend.

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Phoenix Mercury's Taurasi gets DUI citation

July 2, 2009. Diana Taurasi, the leading scorer for the Phoenix Mercury basketball team, was cited with driving under the influence in Phoenix early Thursday morning, according to the Phoenix Police Department.

Taurasi, a guard for the team, was pulled over at 2:30 a.m. in the area of Seventh Avenue and Camelback Road, allegedly for speeding and lane violations, police said.

A police officer conducted several field sobriety tests after he first detected the odor of alcohol, the department said.

Officers then drew her blood in a Phoenix Police Mobile DUI van after she refused a breath test, Phoenix police said. She was cited and released.

A news article from azcentral.com.

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Arizona DUI Police Tests

Most DUI arrests occur at night and on week-ends. The following is a list of symptoms in descending order of probability that the person observed is driving while intoxicated while driving at night. The list is based upon research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA):

1. Turning with a wide radius
2. Straddling center of lane marker
3. "Appearing to be drunk"
4. Almost striking object or vehicle
5. Weaving
6. Driving on other than designated highway
7. Swerving
8. Speed more than 10 mph below limit
9. Stopping without cause in traffic lane
10. Following too closely
11. Drifting
12. Tires on center or lane marker
13. Braking erratically
14. Driving into opposing or crossing traffic
15. Signaling inconsistent with driving actions
16. Slow response to traffic signals
17. Stopping inappropriately (other than in lane)
18. Turning abruptly or illegally
19. Accelerating or decelerating rapidly
20. Headlights off

Interestingly, Speeding has not been identified by NHTSA as an indicator of impairment. However, it is a common prosecution tactic to argue that speeding is "risk taking" behavior suggestive of diminished judgment occasioned by alcohol consumption. In reality, most police officers will admit that totally sober persons drive 10 miles over the posted speed limit late at night when the traffic is light.

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