The Peoria area has held steady when it comes to DUI citations over the last few New Year’s Eves, when there is a higher level of drunk driving than other times of the year.

A public record’s request from the Arrowhead Justice Courts, which encompasses much of Peoria including Loops 101 and 303, revealed that four DUI citations were written over New Year’s Eve and day this year.

There have also been four citations written every year since 2016 on New Year’s Eve, except for 2017, when the Arrowhead court didn’t process any DUI citations.

Maricopa County spokesman Scott Davis said the justice courts receive citations from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, state agencies such as the Department of Public Safety, Game and Fish, some Indian tribes, and on occasion, city police.

The courts do not track violations by city, but by justice precincts.

Hassayampa and Manistee justice precincts have parts of Peoria within them, but the Arrowhead precinct falls largely within Peoria’s boundaries.  

In addition, the Peoria Police Department recorded five DUI citations on New Year’s Eve and day this year. In 2019, Peoria police officers wrote two citations, in 2018, also two citations, and in 2017, there were three citations. 

Although many agencies coordinate a number of multi-jurisdictional DUI task forces throughout the West Valley, officials say it is very difficult to know definitively if the two sets of number overlap.

Mr. Davis said it is possible some of the Arrowhead numbers could have been from Peoria Police Department officers, but doubtful.

“It is possible but I’d say the chances are very low,” he said. “I’d have no way to know without pulling each citation.”

Peoria police spokesman Brandon Sheffert said the department is part of the West Valley DUI task force, which is out during holidays, including New Year’s Eve.

The task force deploys saturation patrols — a large number of law enforcement officers patrolling a certain area for a certain amount of time --  to increase visibility of enforcement. During these patrols, officers look for impaired-driving behaviors — reckless or aggressive driving, speeding and following too closely, among others.

“The most important piece for us, is that citizens realize there is absolutely no excuse or reason to drive impaired, especially with all of the ride share services and other options in the Valley,” Mr. Sheffert said. 

The consequences of a DUI are wide-ranging — some are mandatory, some are optional and some are conditional depending on prior convictions or even what plea is struck with the county attorney.

A person who is convicted of a DUI misdemeanor could be sentenced to serve not less than 10 consecutive days in jail, and pay a fine of not less than $250 as well as an additional assessment of $500 to the state treasurer for the prison construction and operations fund.

Consequences could also include community restitution and traffic school.

Bart Graves, a spokesman with Arizona Department of Public Safety, said the state law enforcement agency’s message regarding DUIs has never changed: Impaired driving is a community-wide problem, it is not just a problem for law enforcement.

“Many people have friends that routinely drink too much then get behind the wheel,” he said. “It’s important that each and every one of us step up and a.) take the keys away, b.) call an Uber or a taxi cab, or c.) demand that person travel with a designated sober driver.”

Philip Haldiman can be reached at 623-876-3697, phaldiman@newszap.com, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman.