This week, a news release was issued by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.  In the release it was revealed that a national initiative aimed at drunk drivers during the Labor Day weekend increased law enforcement units on Arizona roads.

Throughout the holiday weekend, state officials say they are was and increased law enforcement presence and frequent traffic stops as a part of the National Impaired Driving Crackdown.  The Crackdown resulted in numerous DUI arrests and traffic citations.

In 2009, 1,303 officers participated in the Crackdown.  This year, the number increased to 5,423.  Additionally, the number of traffic stops made increased from 13,697 to 30,068.  Police say the total number of DUI arrests during the 17 day enforcement period increased by close to 100, rising from 1,318 to 1,407.

Were you arrested for driving under the influence over Labor Day in Phoenix?  If so, contact the Knowles Law Firm and set up your consultation with a Phoenix DUI attorney today!

In Sierra Vista, members of the Southeastern Arizona DUI Task Force conducted a sobriety checkpoint on Saturday.  The checkpoint took place on State Route 80, which is just north of Davis Road.  During the checkpoint, police say 456 drove through.

Police say the checkpoint was successful as they were able to make several arrests.  First, they found two undocumented immigrant load vehicles.  All of the illegal immigrants were turned over to the Border Patrol.  Second, they stopped a GMC Denali and discovered the vehicle was loaded with marijuana.  Finally, police arrested two people for driving under the influence (DUI).

Police say that their sobriety checkpoints are made possible through grant funding by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.  They plan to conduct additional checkpoints throughout the year, particularly around holidays.

If you have been charged with DUI in Phoenix, it is important that you discuss your case with a Phoenix DUI lawyer.  Contact the Knowles Law Firm today!

In Phoenix, Arizona, a police task force that was created to crack down on drunk driving managed to arrest 170 people who were driving under the influence (DUI).  The arrests took place last week, during the Cinco de Mayo holiday and police say that nearly one third of the drivers were arrested for extreme DUI.

According to recent statistics released by the office of Governor Jan Brewer, 15 of the 170 that were arrested had blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) of 0.15% or higher.  In the state of Arizona, the established legal limit is 0.08%.  All of the arrests took place last Thursday.

The statewide task force was comprised of 224 offices and deputies who monitored checkpoints.  Police also say that they managed to make 160 misdemeanor DUI arrests and 36 DUI of drug arrests. 

Were you recently charged with DUI in Phoenix?  If so, now is the time to review your legal options with a Phoenix DUI lawyer.  Contact out law office today to speak with an attorney who can help you!

Once again, the state of Arizona is cracking down hard on DUI offenders. Both Pima County and Nogales have received grants to help combat underage drinking and driving.

Pima County alone received more than $180,000 to implement more DUI checkpoints, track down drivers with outstanding DUI warrants, and conduct liquor license sweeps. The city of Nogales received $70,000 to do the same thing.

One of the areas DUI enforcement officers are hoping to target most is underage drinkers returning to the United States from Mexico. Because the drinking age in Mexico is 18, many young people travel across the border to drink and party, and then drive back into the U.S. In fact, people as young as 16 are going across the border because bars in Mexico don't often ask for I.D.

Let's just say it's not a good idea for any young person to go across the border to drink. Not only is it illegal to drink and drive once you've re-entered the U.S., but due to the drug war raging in Northern Mexico it's unsafe for American tourists of any age. That being said, if you and your friends decide to drink in Mexico, be sure to designate a sober driver. Once you enter Arizona, if you're caught driving and driving you will be arrested and charged with DUI. Arizona has a very strict underage DUI policy, so strict in fact that having any detectable amount of alcohol in your system, even .01%, can lead to your arrest.

Our advice? If you're under 21 be careful! The police are looking for people like you and will not hesitate to place you under arrest. In the event that you are arrested for underage drunk driving, you can contact the Knowles Law Firm to speak with an experienced Phoenix DUI attorney about your charges.

When DUI checkpoints first started, it was a way for law enforcement officials to catch unsuspecting drunk drivers.  Part of the reason these checkpoints were so effective, and have continued to be effective, is that they catch drunk drivers off-guard.  Once a driver pulls into a checkpoint there is no way of getting around it.  The only way to pass through a checkpoint is to actually go through it.

Newspapers, TV news anchors, and other news outlets sometimes report when a DUI checkpoint is scheduled, but now people are taking matters into their own hands. Users of Twitter, the popular social networking/micro blogging site, are sending tweets altering people to the whereabouts of DUI checkpoints. When a person posts a tweet, it reaches his/her "Twitter friends" instantaneously, and many people have twitter updates sent directly to their cell phones in the form of a text message. Should a tweet come through about a DUI checkpoint, people can easily drive in the other direction if they've had too much to drink.

It seems as though police aren't really angry about the warnings, but rather are concerned that drunk drivers who should be caught and arrested are still on the road,  risking the lives and safety of those around them.  Police officers are also concerned about people looking at their cell phones while driving, which has proven to increase a person's chances of getting involved in an accident.