A civil lawsuit filed against the Phoenix Police Department is drawing renewed legal scrutiny over alleged quota-driven enforcement practices, after a California woman claimed she was wrongfully arrested for driving under the influence despite exculpatory evidence.
Brianna Longoria, an aspiring nurse, alleges violations of her constitutional rights following a December 29, 2024 traffic stop that resulted in her arrest and subsequent professional and medical setbacks.
According to the complaint, Longoria was stopped by Officer Mary Metheny, who initially asserted that she had run a red light, an allegation later contradicted by body camera footage.
The suit states that Longoria complied with all testing procedures, including a breathalyzer that registered “triple zeroes,” and performed within normal limits on field sobriety assessments.
Despite these findings, Metheny allegedly arrested Longoria based on an unsubstantiated suspicion of marijuana impairment and later documented that she had failed sobriety tests.
The plaintiff contends this amounted to fabrication of evidence and unlawful arrest without probable cause.
Central to the lawsuit is body camera footage capturing a conversation between Metheny and another officer, Anette Hannah, which the plaintiff argues evidences a “de facto DUI quota” within the department.
https://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/investigations/theyre-gonna-kick-me-off-squad-if-i-dont-get-a-dui-lawsuit-alleges-phoenix-pd-uses-dui-quotas Hannah expresses concern about job security tied to DUI enforcement, stating, “They’re gonna kick me off squad if I don’t get a DUI.”
Metheny allegedly responds in a manner the complaint characterizes as encouragement to proceed with an arrest regardless of evidentiary sufficiency. The lawsuit frames this exchange as indicative of systemic pressure that may incentivize unconstitutional policing practices, including malicious prosecution.
Although prosecutors moved to dismiss the DUI charge without prejudice in April 2025, Longoria asserts that the arrest continues to impose collateral consequences.
Her driver’s license was suspended for months, delaying access to medical treatment for cervical cancer, and the arrest record has allegedly jeopardized her eligibility for nursing licensure, where drug-related offenses can be disqualifying. An administrative law judge later found no reasonable grounds for the suspension, ordering reinstatement of her driving privileges.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages, expungement of the arrest record, and injunctive relief aimed at reforming departmental policies, including enhanced oversight of DUI enforcement and accountability mechanisms for officer conduct.
The Phoenix Police Department has declined to comment on the pending litigation but confirmed an internal review is underway. Officials have publicly denied the existence of arrest quotas.
Legal analysts note the case may hinge on established Fourth Amendment jurisprudence concerning probable cause, as well as potential claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for violations of civil rights. If substantiated, the allegations could raise significant questions about institutional practices and expose the department to broader liability.
