July 2006: Arizona DUI Arrests Down Forty Percent From Last Year
177 drivers were arrested over the Fourth of July weekend for driving under the influence of alcohol. Although the number declined from last year’s 544 arrests, it still makes for 55 percent of the arrests statewide. More than 320 drivers were arrested between June 30 and July 4.
101 officers from seven police agencies participated in the weekend taskforce. They made arrests in about 20 percent of their 877 stops. Mesa police arrested 78 drivers, more than any other agency. Tempe arrested 33 drivers. Scottsdale arrested 21 drivers.
Source: The Arizona Republic
June 2005: City of Mesa’s Crime Rate Falls Nine Percent
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the City of Mesa’s crime rate dropped by 9 percent in 2004, compared with the previous year. The primary declines were in the areas of thefts, stolen cars and burglaries. The city had 25,864 crimes reported in 2004, compared with 28,473 in 2003.
Property crime dropped by 10.5 percent from 2003 to 2004, far ahead of the national average drop of 1.8 percent. It was reported that Mesa's overall crime rate last year was 57.5 incidents per 100,000 population, the city's lowest rate in six years.
However, violent crimes, including homicides, rapes and assaults, rose by 6.6 percent in 2004, while the rate dropped nationally 1.7 percent.
May 2005: Mesa Police Department Makes 79 DUI Arrests During the Memorial Day Weekend
The Mesa Police Department confirmed that it arrested 79 drunken drivers over the Memorial Day weekend. Seven of the drivers were arrested on suspicion of aggravated DUI and 16 for extreme DUI, wherein blood-alcohol content was at least 0.15 percent. Police also arrested 56 drivers for misdemeanor DUI.
Mesa police concentrated on several areas during the Memorial Day weekend, including Country Club Drive and Southern Avenue, Gilbert and Baseline roads, and Power and McDowell roads.
May 2005: DUI Offenders Could Pay for New City of Mesa Court
Those convicted of DUI, speeding and other misdemeanors may be forced to pay for a portion of the City of Mesa’s new courthouse.
Under a proposed new ordinance, offenders would pay a $15 construction fee in addition to other fines. The fee would rise to $18 in three years. The new ordinance must be approved by the Mesa City Council.
The fees are expected to pay for about half the cost of the courthouse. Bonds to pay for the design work for the courthouse will be sold in June after the council this month approved a financing plan so work could start on the courthouse and a new police lab. Voters approved a $50 million bond issue in March 2004.
