REGARDING PRE-PLANNED & PUBLICIZED FBR DUI EFFORTS
FBR Open focus of DUI task force
By Thomas Keating, For the Tribune
February 6, 2007
More than 90 people were arrested on suspicion of DUI after leaving the FBR Open, the result of a new police task force formed specifically to patrol the rowdy event.
In a more concentrated effort, a cooperative enforcement team of Arizona Department of Public Safety and Scottsdale police officers focused on stopping motorists from driving under the influence as they left the Tournament Players Club of Scottsdale, said Sgt. Brian Swanty, DPS supervisor.
“I believe this is going to be the start of a continuing effort,†Swanty said. “You’re going to be seeing more and more of these (task forces) because we have found them to be very successful.â€
The East Valley DUI Task Force, consisting of about 20 officers, began Jan. 31, and the patrol ran through 2 a.m. Monday.
Their target area was south of Loop 101 through downtown.
The effort netted 92 impaired drivers.
Highway patrol officers contributed to 45 of the arrests.
According to DPS, the highest blood alcohol content level was .18. A BAC of .15 is classified as an extreme DUI and a BAC of .08 is the legal limit.
Before the 2007 FBR Open, the task force most recently operated patrols from Thanksgiving through New Year’s holidays only.
Scottsdale police hope to use the task force for more than special events.
“It will definitely go on in the future,†said Dave Pubins, police department spokesman. “We don’t have to wait for a big weekend event for us to actually do it.â€
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=83611
DUI task force cracks down on FBR Open partiers
Lindsey Collom
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 2, 2007 09:23 PM
Law enforcement officials are warning FBR Open visitors that partying too hard comes with a price.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/020...skforce-ON.html
DUI task force prepares for FBR
Shea Drefs
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 29, 2007 02:13 PM
Scottsdale Police and the Arizona Department of Public Safety are conducting a joint DUI task force spurred by the FBR Open.
The task force starts Wednesday and runs through Sunday to coincide with the more than 500,000 golf fans that pour into Scottsdale to attend what's billed as the "Greatest Show on Grass."
Rob Myers, media relations director for the FBR Open, said the tournament has no involvement with the program but is supportive of the idea.
"Anything to keep drunk drivers off the road," he said.
http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsd...rce0129-ON.html
FBR Open
Scottsdale police get help patrolling FBR
By Mike Sakal, Tribune
January 30, 2007
Scottsdale police officers pulled over impaired drivers leaving the FBR Open for decades, but for the first time in the tournament’s 72-year history, they will have some help.
Tempe police and the Arizona Department of Public Safety will join Scottsdale to form a DUI task force beginning Wednesday, the fist day of the event. The patrol will run through 2 a.m. Monday in an effort to deter motorists from driving under the influence as they leave the Tournament Players Club of Scottsdale.
No particular incident triggered the formation of a task force, but the manpower was available this year, said Sgt. David Larson of the Scottsdale Police Department’s Traffic Division.
“We just want to make sure everyone’s safe on their way home,†Larson said. “We’re hoping that people make that decision on how they’re going to get home before they take that first drink. Hopefully, we’ll be able to say we had no fatalities — that’s our goal. It seems like this event just keeps getting bigger every year.â€
Larson added the price of taking a cab home ($30 to $40) would be much cheaper than paying fines and having a driver’s license suspension for a DUI conviction.
“By the time a first offender pays fines, court costs and increased insurance rates for a DUI, it’s going to cost $5,000 to $6,000,†Larson said. “If it’s your second or third DUI, it’s getting more serious.â€
The East Valley DUI Task Force last operated patrols during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=83176
Creating Impaired Driver General Deterrence
Eight Case Studies of Sustained,
High-Visibility, Impaired-Driving Enforcement
EAST VALLEY DUI TASK FORCE
MARICOPA COUNTY, ARIZONA
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES
The East Valley DUI Task Force conducts one of the largest and longest-running impaired-driving enforcement programs in the country. NHTSA’s guide for conducting saturation patrols (DOT-HS-807-903), published in 1993, is based largely on the early experiences of the member agencies of the East Valley DUI Task Force. Since then, the task force has evolved into a year-round special enforcement program.
PUBLIC AWARENESS / PROGRAM VISIBILITY
The large, brightly illuminated command center, several command vans, dozens of police motorcycles, and many other police and emergency vehicles in the area increase public awareness of the saturation patrols to all motorists in the vicinity. The special operations are so conspicuous that they attract considerable public attention and always receive coverage in local newspapers and on television and radio stations. The Task Force also has obtained the participation of several taxi companies that provide free transportation from bars during saturation patrols; the service is announced on radio and TV stations during the days prior to the special operations.
A dedicated press line has been established for the officer in charge to leave voice messages with statistics and exceptional incidents for news reporters during task force operations. The service is updated every night immediately following the end of operations to provide 24-hour access to current information.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/alc.../EastValley.htm