Valley police are hitting the streets in full force this weekend in search of drivers who’ve thrown back one too many tequila shots in celebration of Cinco de Mayo.
The Scottsdale Police Department, in collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and the Chandler, Mesa, and Tempe police departments will be cracking down on drunk drivers through Saturday night.
Scottsdale police said they're adding 30 extra officers to roads on Friday. But according to police, authorities aren't the only people keeping an eye out for impaired drivers.
"Once in awhile, we get calls from bartenders; most of the time it's from other patrons that are watching these people stumble out of a bar and get into a car," police said. "Sometimes it's just people on the roadways that are driving next to someone or swerving.
ABC15 did a ride along with Scottsdale Police on Friday in search of drunk drivers. Within minutes of the ride, a man was pulled over near Old Town Scottsdale for suspected drunk driving. Workers at the restaurant he left called police after seeing him getting behind the wheel after drinking all afternoon.
DUI enforcement officer Kevin Reynolds said he had no doubt that the suspect was drunk.
"I looked for every possible sign that I'm trained to look for," Reynolds said.
The suspect's initial breathalyzer results were well over the legal limit and the man was handcuffed and taken to the DUI command center where he underwent a blood test. He told police he hadn't consumed alcohol.
"With so many options like a cab, Uber and Lyft, there's no excuse," Reynolds said.
The DUI Task Forces will be setting up Saturation Patrols to remove impaired drivers from the streets before they hurt themselves or others, a Scottsdale police spokesperson said.
Scottsdale police are advising drivers to not get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking. If partygoers need help getting home Friday, first-time Lyft users can get $5 of their first 10 rides with the promo code “CINCOPHX.”
