There is troubling news concerning the number of drunk drivers being arrested in Sioux Falls during daytime hours.

Those daytime arrests now account for 12 percent of the police department's total DUI arrests. A number which the department calls "surprising".

Action News requested Sioux Falls police review their daytime DUI arrests and the results caught them, and us, by surprise.

Drunk driving is normally thought of as an after hours problem, battled with sobriety checkpoints with shaky drivers trying to walk a straight line.

While nighttime hours are still where the problem mainly lies, there is an increase in Sioux Falls in the number of people who drive drunk in the daytime.

Sioux Falls Mom Melissa Swier says the numbers concern her.

Melissa Swier says, "It's scary. It's scary especially with kids walking to school."

Swier has two young kids and is amazed to hear 12 percent of Sioux Falls DUI arrests happen while the sun is shining.

Action News looked into this story because at the end of August, Sioux Falls police conducted a safety check in a school zone and they arrested a man for driving under the influence. It was 8:00 a.m.

So we asked Sioux Falls police sergeant Galen Smidt to check the numbers. He used a 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. parameter and he came up with the 12 percent figure.

Sgt. Galen Smidt says, "It's a little disheartening that we would be arresting people for driving under the influence during the middle of the day."

And it's another worry for Melissa Swier to worry about.

Melissa Swier says, "Yes, it shouldn't be happening."

Sioux Falls police want your help in bringing all DUI numbers down. They say if you're on the road and see a car bobbing and weaving through traffic, pick up the phone and call 911.

Police say as a result of this finding, they plan on amping up daytime DUI patrols in the city.