WA - Additional patrols will focus on impaired drivers, spee
Additional patrols will focus on impaired drivers, speeders
STACEY MULICK; The News Tribune
Published: January 23rd, 2008 08:43 AM | Updated: January 23rd, 2008 08:50 AM
Law enforcement agencies throughout the state will be putting more officers on the streets every week as part of a new coordinated effort launched Tuesday to reduce deadly and serious injury traffic accidents.
The statewide program is named X-52 and is being coordinated by the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission, Washington State Patrol and Washington State Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.
As part of X-52, agencies will work together at specific locations where drunken driving and speeding have been problems, the Traffic Commission reported in a news release. The state Department of Transportation has developed maps that show collision clusters on roadways.
A similar approach was first used in a pilot program last year that targeted speeders in Pierce and Snohomish counties. During that program, local law enforcement agencies worked together to catch speeders in an area of East Pierce County prone to speed-related collisions.
The extra patrols for X-52 will be paid for through a grant from the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission. Tribal nations and sheriff’s and police departments will receive $450,000 for the patrols.
“X-52 is an unprecedented statewide, coordinated effort,” said Don Pierce, executive director of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. “Local law enforcement agencies across the state want to work together and with Washington State Patrol to reduce roadway deaths.”
