Mesa prosecutors gets grant for DUI drug cases

MESA, Ariz. (AP) - The Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety has awarded a grant to the Mesa Prosecutor's Office to improve DUI drug case prosecution.

The nearly $6,800 grant will be used to fund the Mesa Police Department's Crime Lab.

The lab now will stay open an additional 20 hours per month for a 12-month period.

The extended hours will be dedicated solely to testing for DUI drug cases. It's estimated that the grant will allow an additional 180 to 240 cases to be processed.

Authorities say that since 2009, the number of DUI drug arrests has increased 100% in Mesa.

They say DUI drug cases pose a significant risk to motorists and are much more labor intensive in the field, lab and in the courtroom.

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