Just another night for the pair who have arrested more than 200 since May, their third tour of duty on DUI patrol together. Torres, 42, is responsible for more than 600 DUI arrests since he started with the department 10 years ago, and Miles, 32, has made more than 500 collars since his start almost nine years ago. This spring, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, when it has its annual awards ceremony, will honor both with Century Awards for 100 DUI arrests. For the officers, their motivation is simple.
"Every DUI we arrest, that's one life saved in my mind," Torres said.
That's especially true for Miles, once hit by a female driver allegedly under the influence and then a month later injured while pursuing another DUI suspect through a carwash.
"It affects everyone," he said.
On their most recent tour of duty the duo has noticed an alarming rise in the number of arrests.
Last year, Costa Mesa police made 1,047 DUI arrests. Even more disturbing, the drivers getting busted are trending younger, they said.
"I did the math, and 60% of who we arrested were under 30," Miles said. "That just blows me away. Before we'd see anything from 25 years old to the early 40s."
Due to stepped-up law enforcement, however, the number of DUI-related accidents have decreased, said Lt. Dave Andersen, who supervises Miles and Torres.
Police reported 91 DUI-related accidents this year, compared with 103 at the same time in 2006. That's a 12% drop overall.
The two have noticed another trend — more people are driving while under the influence of prescription drugs and alcohol. Drivers may not be over a legal limit on alcohol alone but "taking those pills has an intensifying effect," Miles said.
And drivers should be advised it's tough to trick these guys.
