Officers seeing extreme DUI, drugged drivers over holiday weekend

CASA GRANDE, AZ - It is one of the busiest nights for law enforcement and here in the Valley the number of DUIs is already adding up.

So far this holiday season, 3,500 people statewide have been arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence.

Pinal County Sheriff's deputies found some very extreme cases right out of the gate this holiday weekend near Casa Grande. 

The very first person they arrested when they launched their checkpoint Thursday registered a .23 blood alcohol level.  Another person they stopped had a crack pipe in the back seat.

"We're also seeing more drugged driving," confirmed spokesperson Elias Johnson. "Our deputies are trained better than ever to spot not just alcohol impairment but whether someone is taking prescription drugs and shouldn't be driving."

In 2009 there were 4,543 DUI arrests statewide, according to the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.  In 2010 there were 3,798 and so far this year the number of arrests sits at 3,571.

Officials are expected to release updated enforcement figures Sunday.