Letter to Department of Public Safety Director, Governor's Office of Highway Safety Director, and Department of Liquor Licenses and Control Director

April 13, 2004

Dennis Garrett, Director
Department of Public Safety
2102 W. Encanto Blvd.
Phoenix, Arizona 85005

Richard Fimbres, Director
Governor's Office of Highway Safety
3030 N. Central, Suite 1550
Phoenix, Arizona 85012

Leesa Berens Morrison, Director
Department of Liquor Licenses and Control
800 W. Washington, 5th floor
Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Re: HB2570 - Closing time; liquor establishments

Dear Directors Garrett, Fimbres and Morrison:

Today I signed House Bill 2570, which allows liquor establishments to sell alcohol until 2:00 a.m., modifying the previous cut-off time of 1:00 a.m. Patrons have until 2:30 a.m. to finish consuming their alcoholic beverages, but the business must stop serving alcohol at 2:00 a.m.

While I am signing this Bill into law, I remain concerned about the impact it may have on Arizona's citizens, the Department of Public of Safety, the Department of Liquor, and local law enforcement. Accordingly, I am asking each of you to monitor the effect of this legislation and to report to me six months after it becomes law. I specifically want to learn whether this new law has increased your Department's need for resources, caused repercussions for local law enforcement, increased the number of DUIs or DUI-related accidents, or affected in any way the Department of Liquor's ability to enforce liquor laws.

I am aware that, as a complement to this Bill, the legislature has made assurances that it will appropriate to the Department of Liquor additional funding and new investigative positions. To that end, the Department is requesting an additional $580,000 to fund six new investigative positions. This will assist the existing 15 field officers in policing approximately 10,800 licenses.

Thank you for your assistance. I look forward to receiving your six month report.

Yours very truly,

Janet Napolitano
Governor