A recent ABC News investigative report highlighted a lawsuit out of Phoenix, Arizona, in which a woman claims she was pulled over and handcuffed for no legitimate reason — all because of what she alleges is a hidden DUI quota system. The Phoenix Police Department denies using quotas, but the story has sparked nationwide conversation about whether numerical performance goals are quietly driving traffic enforcement.
Here in Georgia, the same pressures exist — they’re just given more official-sounding names: “DUI performance objectives” and “DUI contacts.” These terms appear throughout grant applications and reports from local law enforcement agencies that receive funding from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS).
At George C. Creal, Jr., P.C., we have represented hundreds of clients charged with DUI across Metro Atlanta and the rest of Georgia. We have seen how these grant-driven incentives can affect real people who find themselves arrested and facing serious criminal charges.
What Are “DUI Contacts” and Why Do They Matter?
The GOHS awards H.E.A.T. (Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic) grants to police departments, sheriff’s offices, and state patrol units. These grants fund overtime, specialized vehicles, equipment, and dedicated officers whose primary mission is impaired-driving enforcement.
To qualify for — and keep — these grants, agencies must submit proposals that include specific, measurable performance objectives. According to official GOHS grant guidelines, a standard requirement is:
“The HEAT unit will initiate 20 DUI contacts per month during the grant period.”
Some agencies propose even higher targets (27, 30, or more). “DUI contacts” refer to traffic stops in which an officer investigates a driver for possible impairment. This often includes field sobriety tests, portable breath tests, or arrests.
While outright arrest quotas are generally prohibited by law, these grant-mandated numerical goals create strong incentives for funded units to be highly proactive. Officers know their agency’s funding and performance evaluations depend in part on hitting these numbers. The result? More saturation patrols, more sobriety checkpoints, and more traffic stops that quickly turn into DUI investigations.
How This System Affects People Arrested for DUI in Georgia
- A minor traffic violation (or even a “suspicious” driving pattern) leads to an immediate DUI investigation.
- Officers working H.E.A.T.-funded shifts conduct aggressive enforcement during high-visibility periods tied to grant reporting requirements.
- Marginal or borderline cases result in arrest because the pressure is to make the “contact” count toward the monthly or yearly goal.
Clients often tell us they felt the officer was looking for a reason to escalate the stop. In some cases, the evidence is weak, the field sobriety tests were conducted under poor conditions, or the stop itself may not have been supported by reasonable articulable suspicion. Yet the arrest still happens — and the driver is left facing license suspension, heavy fines, possible jail time, and a criminal record.
The GOHS grants are designed with the laudable goal of reducing impaired-driving crashes. No one disputes the importance of getting dangerous drivers off the road. However, when funding is tied to the quantity of “DUI contacts,” the risk of over-enforcement increases — and innocent or only marginally impaired drivers can pay a heavy price.
Why You Need an Experienced Atlanta DUI Lawyer
A DUI charge in Georgia is never “just a ticket.” It carries life-altering consequences. That’s why it is critical to have a lawyer who understands both the science of DUI defense and the real-world pressures driving these arrests.
George C. Creal, Jr. has been fighting DUI cases in Georgia courts for over three decades. We don’t just plead cases — we investigate the stop, scrutinize the officer’s training and procedures, challenge the reliability of breath or blood tests, and hold law enforcement accountable when performance objectives appear to influence enforcement decisions.
If you or a loved one has been arrested for DUI anywhere in Georgia, don’t navigate the system alone. The difference between a conviction and a dismissal or reduction often comes down to experienced, aggressive representation from day one.
Call George C. Creal, Jr., P.C. today at 404-333-0706
or visit www.georgecreal.com for a free, confidential consultation.
We fight for results. We fight for you.George C. Creal, Jr., P.C. – Atlanta DUI Lawyer
Serving clients throughout Metro Atlanta and all of Georgia