Police Officers to Crack Down on DUIs in Arizona This Holiday Season

This holiday season, drivers will be especially eager to visit their family and friends for annual celebrations. With many people having stayed home last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, groups could be gathering in higher numbers this year compared to years past. It is important to be aware, however, that as more Arizonians are out on the road, police officers will be increasing their efforts to conduct traffic stops and charge people with DUIs.

The holidays are always a time when troopers maintain a more active presence on the roads, and, according to a recent news report, troopers have pulled more people over around 2021 holidays than they had in 2019 and 2020. Fourth of July, Labor Day, Cinco de Mayo, and Halloween all saw increases in the number of DUI arrests compared to 2020. In particular, 2021 Halloween arrests were more than Halloween arrests in 2019 and 2020 combined.

The day before Thanksgiving is the first day to be extra careful on the roads this holiday season; the NHTSA reports that 800 people died in the U.S. due to DUI accidents during the Thanksgiving holiday period from 2013 to 2017. Popularly known as “Whisky Wednesday”, the day before Thanksgiving will be a day when state troopers to pull over more people than they typically would.

Christmas Day is another day where drivers should exercise caution. Evidence from BACtrack shows that there are at least 45 DUI accidents per day in the United States during the three-day Christmas holiday period, making it another time that officers will be on the lookout for people to pull over.

Lastly, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day is a popular drinking period, and police officers will have this in mind when they are patrolling the roads. ValuePenguin reports that the two-day New Year’s holiday sees an average of 31.7 DUI deaths per day, with more DUI arrests and DUI hit-and-run accidents reported. With this data in mind, police officers will be ready to crack down on any driver they deem suspicious.

It is important to exercise caution when traveling to visit friends and family as we round out 2021. Police will be eager to pull over those who are driving under the influence this next month. What’s more, there is a law in Arizona requiring DUI offenders to install an ignition interlock device at the driver’s own expense. This device connects to the driver’s car and will not allow the vehicle to start unless the driver’s BAC is under .02. To avoid this and other possible charges, stay safe over Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s by driving responsibly.

Have You Been Charged with a DUI in Arizona?

If you are facing DUI charges in Arizona, you are not alone. At the Law Office of James E. Novak, we will stand with you to fight your charges and make sure you have the best representation possible. We have extensive experience handling all criminal matters, including Arizona drunk driving charges, and are committed to working with you to develop a compelling defense to the charges you face. To learn more, and to speak confidentially with our firm, give us a call to schedule a free consultation at 480-413-1499.