A lawsuit filed against the Phoenix Police Department is raising serious concerns about how DUI arrests are handled, with claims that officers are pressured to make arrests to meet unofficial quotas.
The case was brought by Brianna Longoria, a California woman who traveled to Phoenix in December 2024 for her wedding so her sick father could attend. What was supposed to be a meaningful and joyful time, she says, turned into a distressing experience when she was pulled over and arrested for DUI.
According to the lawsuit, Longoria was stopped by Officer Mary Metheny near Seventh Street and Washington Street after being accused of running a red light. However, the legal filing states that body camera footage shows the light was actually green when she went through the intersection.
During the stop, officers claimed Longoria showed signs of impairment, including red eyes and dilated pupils, and suspected she may have been under the influence of marijuana. Despite that, she recorded a “triple zero” result on a breathalyzer test, indicating no alcohol in her system.
The lawsuit further alleges that Longoria passed all field sobriety tests and that a later blood test confirmed there were no drugs or alcohol present. Even so, she was still arrested and charged with DUI. Her attorneys argue that officers fabricated details about her condition and performance on sobriety tests to justify the arrest.
Central to the case is body camera audio that allegedly captures officers discussing pressure to make DUI arrests. In the recording, one officer is heard saying they could be removed from their squad if they did not make a DUI arrest, while another suggests it is possible to “conjure one up.” The lawsuit claims this reflects a broader culture within the department that encourages arrests even without clear evidence.
The filing also describes a conversation between Longoria’s husband and another officer during the arrest, in which the officer allegedly said that even if test results showed no impairment, authorities could still proceed with the case.
Longoria says the incident had significant personal consequences. She missed a medical procedure related to her cancer treatment, lost her driver’s license for months, and faced setbacks in her plans to become a nurse. She also had to cancel her honeymoon due to legal expenses and travel complications following the arrest.
Court records show the city later moved to dismiss the DUI charge without prejudice, meaning it could have been refiled at a later date. Longoria is now suing the City of Phoenix, seeking damages, the removal of the arrest from her record, and policy changes aimed at increasing accountability and oversight within the police department.
In response, the Phoenix Police Department has denied that any DUI quota system exists. A department spokesperson stated that enforcement decisions are based on observed behavior, training, and the totality of the circumstances, not on meeting numerical targets.
The lawsuit remains ongoing, and it has sparked broader debate about police practices, officer discretion, and whether informal pressures within law enforcement could influence arrest decisions.
