Checkpoint nets 10 DUI arrests at Lake Pleasant
Brent Whiting
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 6, 2007 11:43 AM
Ten people got caught Monday afternoon during a DUI checkpoint conducted by Peoria police at Lake Pleasant, authorities said Thursday.
The 10 arrests resulted from 873 contacts made by police during a Labor Day enforcement effort near Arizona 74 and Castle Hot Springs Road as people were leaving the recreation area, said Mike Tellef, a Peoria police spokesman.
Tellef described the Labor Day operation as a resounding success, saying there were no DUI-related crashes in the Peoria area on Labor Day.
In fact, many people leaving the lake told officers that because of advance news stories about the checkpoint, they realized they couldn't drink and drive, Tellef said.
More checkpoint operations are planned in Peoria, but probably elsewhere, he said.
Tellef said that of the 10 people who were nabbed, three of them were cited for extreme DUI, or having a blood-alcohol level above 0.15 percent.
In addition, there were three citations for underage drinking, as well as a handful of other violations, Tellef said.
A total of 32 officers and six support workers joined in the checkpoint operation, he said.
Under Arizona law, the presumed intoxication level is a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent with an extreme DUI resulting in enhanced penalties.
