by Jackee Coe - Sept. 18, 2012 07:51 PM
The Republic | azcentral.com
Southeast Valley police are on the lookout for underage drinkers and for those who drink and drive near schools.
Wise decision-making about alcohol use is an annual back-to-school theme by law enforcement, and this year, southeast Valley police departments are partnering with the Governor's Office of Highway Safety to conduct saturation DUI patrols the first few weeks of school. Police are joining with Arizona State University, schools, businesses and community groups to reach students.
Officers are reminding minors to not drink and those who are at least 21 to drink in moderation in an effort to cut back on sexual assaults. They also are urging people to not get behind the wheel while intoxicated.
"It's really an opportunity for us to reach out to the students while we have their ear because we want them to be safe," Tempe police Lt. Kerby Rapp said. "We don't want the unfortunate incidents to happen, and every student that we can reach out to is potentially a crime that's not going to happen."
Officers want to make sure that returning community-college and ASU students are aware of "the realistic dangers out there" and that good decision making can enhance their personal safety, Tempe police Lt. Scott Smith said.
Drinking too much alcohol can lead to many issues, including DUI-related collisions and fatalities, criminal damage, disorderly conduct, fights and rapes, Chandler Detective Seth Tyler said.
Sexual assaults in the region have risen slightly in recent years, and police say the majority involve acquaintances and alcohol. Most take place between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weekends, when people are out with friends.
Tempe officers arrested a man recently who they believe was drunk and who they suspect attempted to rape a woman near Mill Avenue, police said. The woman had had a few drinks while out with friends but was not intoxicated, police say. She had been walking alone about 3 a.m. after being separated from her friends when the man is suspected of attacking her.
In Mesa, there have been incidents of people passing out after drinking too much alcohol and waking up while an assault was occurring, police Sgt. Tony Landato said.
Tempe school-resource Sgt. Josie Montenegro said resource officers have seen an increase in teen-dating violence, which is "a vicious cycle that can lead to sexual assaults." School-resource officers will be teaching classes on the subject.
Officers from ASU, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert and Mesa will conduct saturation patrols during the first few weeks of school.
Underage DUI citations have decreased in the southeast Valley since 2010. Chandler, which had the fewest, dropped from 18 in 2010 to 14 in 2011. Gilbert decreased from 447 to 307, and Mesa from 355 to 338 during the same time. Tempe was the only city with an increase, from 171 in 2010 to 253 in 2011.
Southeast Valley cities have several programs targeting underage drinking.
Tempe's social-host ordinance holds responsible those who provide alcohol to a minor.
The first offense carries a $250 fine that could be reduced if the person completes an education class. A second offense is a $1,000 fine, and third and subsequent offenses are $1,500 each.
19 Sep, 2012
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Source: http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/2012/09/12/20120912southeast-police-drinking-minors-drivers.html
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