YPD officers will be out in force over Thanksgiving

Details target drunk drivers

The Yuma Police Department will be cracking down on drunk driving over the Thanksgiving holiday, so motorists can expect to see more officers out on the streets.

Starting Wednesday, Nov. 21, and continuing through Saturday, Nov. 24, Yuma police will be conducting an impaired driving detail designed to stop drivers who are impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Extra Yuma police officers will rove city streets, looking to stop and arrest drivers who are impaired by alcohol and/or drugs, actively enforcing all traffic laws and raising public awareness about the dangers of impaired driving.

These patrols are in addition to regularly scheduled patrol officers.

Funding for these DUI details was provided through a grant awarded by the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. The funds enable Yuma police to increase the number of officers on patrol within the city during high traffic holiday weekends, thereby significantly reducing the number of DUI-related incidents.

Impaired driving is one of America’s most often committed and deadliest crimes.

Arizona is a zero tolerance state, meaning anyone found to be in control of a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more may be found guilty of DUI.

A person may also be charged with DUI if they are impaired and under the influence of any amount of alcohol or impaired drugs. These include both legal prescription medications and over-the-counter medications.

There are three types of DUI, each taking into account BAC levels and other factors such as previous convictions.

Under state law, a first offense carries a minimum sentence of 10 days in jail — nine of which may be suspended — up to a maximum of six months, fines and fees that can go up to as much as $2,500 in total, alcohol or drug screening and counseling, and one’s driver’s license being suspended from 90 days to a year.

A first-time conviction can also require the installation of an ignition interlock device, possible probation for up to three years, and in some cases may even require community service hours.

According to Yuma police, impaired driving is one of America’s most often committed and deadliest crimes.