DUI Checkpoint Update

On Thursday, May 3rd, 2012, the Tucson Police Department conducted a sobriety checkpoint at the intersection of East 6th Street and North Jacobus. The intent of the checkpoint was to increase the awareness of motorists about the dangers of impaired driving, deter those who may be impaired from driving, and detect and investigate DUI offenses at the checkpoint.

The sobriety checkpoint utilized a total of 18 officers and contacted approximately 683 drivers during the hours of operation (9:30 p.m. – 2:30 a.m.). During this deployment, officers made 16 Misdemeanor DUI arrests and 2 Felony DUI arrests, two of which were for persons under 21 years of age. Five of the 18 Misdemeanor DUI arrests were also charged with Extreme DUI for having an alcohol concentration above 0.150 BAC. The average BAC for all of the DUI arrests was 0.130 BAC. In addition to the DUI related arrests, officers issued 82 other citations, contacted 33 Designated Drivers and impounded 7 vehicles.

Sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols are proven and effective methods of deterring impaired driving and are important components in the Tucson Police Department’s overall efforts to reduce impaired driving. Surveys from prior sobriety checkpoints indicate overwhelming public support for checkpoints as a strategy to reduce DUI offenses. The Tucson Police Department encourages drivers to not drink and drive.