Recently in DUI in the News Category

Drinking and driving is always a bad idea. Sometimes, however, it results in a compelling story, whether it be a tragic one or a funny one.

Below, we’ve included our top five DUI stories of 2012.

Whether on asphalt or water, it's always a bad idea to drink and drive.

Back in March, Dwarkesh Prasannavathanam, a student at Cal State Long Beach, drowned while tubing on Lake Havasu, Today's News-Herald reports.

Now, Richard Allen Timmsen, the boat's driver, is facing one count of felony endangerment and two counts of misdemeanor operating under the influence for his role in the accident.

You can't outrun a Taser. An accused drunken driver learned that lesson the hard way last week when he was shot with a Taser not once, but twice, the Eastern Arizona Courier reports.

Matthew Eugene Ravia was pulled over for speeding on New Year's Day. Instead of surrendering to police, however, Ravia took off on foot. Police had to use stun guns on the suspected drunken driver twice before he could be cuffed. Ravia is now facing charges for aggravated DUI and unlawful flight from law enforcement.

It's the most wonderful time of the year ... to get nabbed for drunken driving.

The increased traffic enforcement across the state netted a record number of DUI arrests this holiday season, according to The Arizona Republic. Officers arrested 4,371 people statewide on suspicion of DUI between Nov. 24 and Jan 1.

Drugged driving is a mounting problem in the Valley. In fact, authorities say that since 2009 the number of DUI drug arrests has increased by 100 percent in Mesa.

That's why the Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety has awarded the Mesa Prosecutor's Office a grant to help improve DUI drug case prosecution, The Associated Press reports. With the grant, the Mesa Police Department's Crime Lab plans to expand its hours in order to process more drugged driving cases.

Michel Hallor is living a mother's worst nightmare. Hallor's 8-year-old son Andrew was killed in 2011 when the SUV he was riding in flipped on Highway 89 near Wilhoit.

While Hallor wasn't the driver of the SUV, she failed to make sure Andrew was buckled up. She also happened to have a blood alcohol content more than three times the legal limit. On Monday, Hallor was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her role in the crash, The Daily Courier reports.

Coconino County Superior Court Judge Joseph James Lodge Jr. has been reassigned to non-judicial duties following a DUI arrest last week. Ironically, Lodge handles felony DUI cases.

The judge was allegedly driving with a BAC of 0.229 percent, the Arizona Daily Sun reports. That's nearly three times the legal limit. Now Lodge will probably face a super extreme DUI charge.

Back in 2010, high school senior Joey Romero was killed by a hit-and-run driver while walking home from his job at a dollar store. After the accident, Romero's family began pushing for increased penalties for hit-and-run drivers.

On Wednesday, Gov. Jan Brewer signed Senate Bill 1163 into law, The Arizona Republic reports. Under "Joey's Law," drivers who kill someone and then drive off could lose their licenses for a decade.

Holiday parties can be a blast or a straight-up nightmare depending on the crowd and environment. The one thing they almost always have in common, however, is an abundance of booze.

While festive drinks like spiked eggnog and mulled cider are smooth going down, the alcohol can sneak up on you. So if you plan on drinking this holiday season, make sure to have a plan in place to get home safe.

Here are a few suggestions:

If Isaac Richard Quesada had only stopped at the scene of the accident he caused, Jesus Jimenez would be alive today. And Quesada would only be facing a super extreme DUI charge, as opposed to the vehicular manslaughter charge he'll likely get now.

Quesada reportedly hit Jimenez's car while driving drunk. When Jimenez approached Quesada's car to discuss the crash, Quesada allegedly took off, dragging Jimenez to his death, CBS 5 News reports.