Arizona cracks down on intoxicated drivers

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By Bob Hembree
Lake Powell Chronicle

PAGE – The Arizona Department of Public Safety received an $80,000 grant from the DUI Abatement Council.
The council is administered by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. According to AZDPS, “Funding will increase proactive DUI enforcement capabilities through state trooper overtime staffing. The funding will be allocated by the Department’s Highway Patrol Division through December 31, 2019, for overtime staffing and employee related expenses during an aggressive DUI enforcement campaign throughout the state.”


This will help DHPD increase forces in areas with higher alcohol related injury and fatal crashes. “Collision investigations, disabled motorists, debris, criminal violations, court proceedings and other administrative assignments typically reduce the amount of proactive patrol time a regular duty trooper can conduct; this grant will increase the proactive patrol time for troopers,” according to DHPD.


Lt. Colonel Jenna Mitchell, assistant director for the Highway Patrol Division said, “DUI related highway crash statistics will dictate when and where we will implement trooper overtime staffing in order to ensure grant dollars are as impactful as possible in reducing impaired drivers on Arizona’s roadways.”