Many will bring in the new year by partying, but be wary of how you get home. The DUI van will be out and officers will be on the lookout for impaired drivers.
When you're out celebrating this New Year's Eve, think before you get behind the wheel.
"They're putting not only themselves, but innocent families, innocent victims at risk," said Lt. Brian Lee, with Phoenix police's DUI Task Force.
Drunk drivers will have to contend with a mobile DUI processing unit in every precinct in Phoenix.
"What's frustrating for law enforcement is that the DUI is 100 percent preventable," said Lee.
Roughly 1,700 Phoenix officers will be looking for impaired drivers.
Lee is seeing a rise of extreme DUI drivers who are not just consuming alcohol.
'It's continuing to resurface, presence of prescription drugs. People seem to think that if a doctor prescribed it, it's okay. They don't realize it has the exact same symptoms that you get through alcohol impairment or through illicit drugs," said Lee.
So far this holiday season, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 27, officers have already arrested 3,353 people statewide.
578 arrests were made in Phoenix alone.
Once suspected, drunk drivers are given field sobriety tests and brought to a mobile processing center, where officers can finger print them and check their records instantly.
"We're seeing less of border line impaired driver and more of the extreme impaired driver," said Lee.
Lee recommends you plan how you are getting home before leaving the house for a New Year's Eve party.
Call a driver in advance or have a secured designated driver.
We've all seen the holiday decorations on homes all over the valley, but have you ever seen a house decorated by holiday houses? It's drawing big crowds in Chandler.
We've all seen the holiday decorations on homes all over the valley, but have you ever seen a house decorated by holiday houses? It's drawing big crowds in Chandler.
You better plan ahead - way ahead - for upcoming Black Friday sales this year, especially now that Walmart will open up stores at 8 p.m. Thanksgiving Thursday.
You better plan ahead - way ahead - for upcoming Black Friday sales this year, especially now that Walmart will open up stores at 8 p.m. Thanksgiving Thursday.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:52 AM EDT2013-05-22 13:52:16 GMT
Jersey shore town is celebrating a milestone as it rebuilds from Superstorm Sandy. Belmar officials will reopen their 1.3-mile boardwalk that was destroyed by the October storm.
Jersey shore town is celebrating a milestone as it rebuilds from Superstorm Sandy. Belmar officials will reopen their 1.3-mile boardwalk that was destroyed by the October storm.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:23 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:23:21 GMT
Ex-congressman Anthony Weiner whose career imploded after raunchy tweets said in a YouTube video announcement that he's in the New York City mayoral race.
Ex-congressman Anthony Weiner whose career imploded after raunchy tweets said in a YouTube video announcement that he's in the New York City mayoral race. A poll released Wednesday placed Weiner in second place behind City Council Speaker Christine Quinn in a Democratic primary.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:10 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:10:21 GMT
Commuter rail service from Connecticut to New York City, along with Amtrak service between Boston and New York, was back on schedule Wednesday morning on one of the nation's oldest and most heavily traveled railways.
Commuter rail service from Connecticut to New York City, along with Amtrak service between Boston and New York, was back on schedule Wednesday morning on one of the nation's oldest and most heavily traveled railways.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:42 AM EDT2013-05-22 11:42:24 GMT
The National Weather Service is looking into whether a tornado touched down in a rural eastern New York county during a series of severe thunderstorms that rumbled across the upstate region.
The National Weather Service is looking into whether a tornado touched down in a rural eastern New York county during a series of severe thunderstorms that rumbled across the upstate region.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:09 AM EDT2013-05-22 11:09:33 GMT
The NYPD arrested a suspect in the latest anti-gay attack in the city, said police.
The NYPD arrested a suspect in the latest anti-gay attack in the city, said police. The incident Monday night involved two men, who police say, had met at the Bowery Mission and went out drinking together in the East Village. Roman Gornell, 39, was arrested on Wednesday.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 9:51 PM EDT2013-05-22 01:51:10 GMT
Just a few days after Mark Carson, 32, was killed for being gay, and only a few hours after a massive rally in the west village calling for an end to the anti-gay violence, it happened again.
Just a few days after Mark Carson, 32, was killed for being gay, and only a few hours after a massive rally in the west village calling for an end to the anti-gay violence, it happened again.
