Spike in DUI Arrests May be Related to New Closing Time

Since the Arizona legislature extended the bar closing time on Aug. 25th, Arizonans have had until 2 a.m. to cash in the tabs, and until 2:30 to guzzle what's left in their glasses, but what effect, if any, has this had on DUI arrests and the occasional unruly nature of the late night crowds?

Opponents of extending closing times argued that the extra hour of drinking would lead to more intoxicated drivers on the streets, and corresponding fatalities. Proponents contended the new times would encourage tourism and add more to the bottom line.

Since the later closing time was enacted in August, Scottsdale has seen an increase in the number of DUI arrests when compared to the same period of 2003. While city officials say it is too early to draw any conclusions from the latest figures, it appears a trend could be developing.

During September, the first full month Arizonans had an extra hour to drink, the Scottsdale Police Department made 83 more DUI arrests than in the same month last year, a 53 percent increase.

The increase does not appear to be due to any change made by the police department. Scottsdale Police Det. Samuel Bailey said the only change made to accommodate the later last call was shifting officers' schedules by an hour.

"There wasn't anything we did significant from one year to another," he said.

A spokesman from the Governor's Office of Highway Safety says the increase in arrests may be due to the officers' commitment to get drunk drivers off the street.

"I know Scottsdale is very aggressive and goes out there to arrest impaired drivers," Deputy Director Michael Hegarty said.

Rep. Michelle Reagan, who lobbied heavily to get the law passed, says an increase in DUI arrests is not necessarily a bad thing.

"That doesn't mean more people are drinking; it means more people are getting caught," she said. "We want to make sure the fatality rate doesn't go up."

Reagan added that the bill would not have been passed if fatality rates had gone up in other states that passed later last calls.

Hegarty says the Governor's office plans to examine the effects of the later last call after six months.

"We are very glad the Governor cares to monitor the situation," said Marcia Harmon, the state executive director of M.A.D.D.

Harmon fears the new law is increasing the number of drunk drivers on Valley streets.

"The biggest concern is in our rural areas," she said.

Harmon also notes the Valley has many long, straight roads, which increase the risk of people driving faster.

While early statistics may suggest otherwise, Bailey and Hegarty contend there hasn't been a noticeable difference in the number of impaired drivers, and Reagan says the new last call could actually reduce the number of fatalities on the road caused by drunk drivers.

"We have two communities of drivers at that time. Those who are drinking, and those who aren't," Reagan explains. "Let's let those two groups of drivers be as far away from each other as possible."

Reagan says it's easier to decipher which drivers have been drinking later at night because most of the people who were at a late dinner or movie have already gone home.

Harmon disagrees. She says more impaired drivers will be on the road when residents with non-traditional work schedules, like construction, healthcare and media, will be driving to work.

"This could and will and does conflict with early hour rush," she said.

One of the most talked-about benefits of the later last call was the economic impact of an estimated $55 million it will bring in extra revenue.

"The business owners of tourism have been tickled pink," Reagan said. "We want to attract tourists here, and we want them to spend money while they're here."

But Harmon says the extra revenue blinded lawmakers from the possibility of fatalities caused by drunk drivers.

"You can't talk about $55 million of tourism when you're talking about losing lives," she said. "What do you put to the value of one life lost?"

Out of the 50 largest cities in the U.S., only four had last calls earlier than 2 a.m., and two of those cities -- Phoenix, Tucson and Mesa -- were in Arizona.

Reagan says most of the community feedback has been positive. "The general attitude is, it's about time," she said.

Jeff O'Neil, managing partner of Axis-Radius in Scottsdale agrees. "On nights when there's a concert or game, people will now have time to drive out to Axis/Radius," he said.

While it may seem counterintuitive, O'Neil says the atmosphere of the large club is now more controlled with the later last call.

"I don't think you're seeing this power drinking when people get out at 1 a.m.," he said. "They are pacing themselves, not that elbow to elbow when getting out."

He also says it's too early too tell if the extra hour of drinking will lead to an increase in the club's revenues. The true test should come with the holiday season, when snowbirds and other out-of-towners hit the bars.

John Casale, the owner of Scottsdale Old Town hotspots The Salty Senorita and Furio, has had a similar experience since the later last call has been enacted.

"Knowing that bars were only open until 1 a.m., they would have to pound," he said. "People are able to relax. The extra hour makes a big difference."

The Salty Senorita takes advantage of the 2 a.m. last call on Friday and Saturday only, so Casale says he doesn't expect a significant increase in revenue, but he does say the extra hour has made it easier to control crowds, since patrons don't feel rushed.

DUI Arrests by Scottsdale Police Department
	2003	2004
June	180	160
July	161	192
August	214	195
September	154	237*
*This was the first full month with the 2 a.m. last call