WA - Grant allows county to increase DUI patrols

Grant allows county to increase DUI patrols http://www.mukilteobeacon.com/templa...pdf_button.png http://www.mukilteobeacon.com/templa...rintButton.png http://www.mukilteobeacon.com/templa...mailButton.png Wednesday, 02 December 2009 14:00 Snohomish County will receive nearly $70,000 in grant funding to keep local law enforcement cracking down on impaired driving, keeping county roads safer.

The $69,850 grant will help pay overtime between Nov. 28, 2009, and Sept. 6, 2010, during “Drive Hammered – Get Nailed” traffic safety emphasis patrols. Snohomish County routinely joins its counterparts throughout Washington state in the Washington Traffic Safety Commission’s emphasis patrols.

“The purpose of this grant is to remove drinking drivers from our roads,” Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon said. “In addition, officers will also be on the lookout for people who speed, drive aggressively or violate other traffic laws.”

Snohomish County law enforcement will be working together in multi-jurisdictional, highly visible forces on roadways that have shown high collision rates, especially during the holidays, to reduce the number of impairment-involved crashes.

In Snohomish County, there were 95 impairment-involved crashes between 2004 and 2008 resulting in 100 deaths. This accounts for just under half of all Snohomish County traffic deaths during the same five-year period (100 of 216).

One out of five impaired, driver-related deaths was a person between 21 and 25 years old. Two out of three deaths occurred between 6 p.m. and 3 a.m., while one-fourth of impaired driver-related deaths occurred on Sunday.

More than half of all impaired, driver-related deaths occurred during weekend hours (6 p.m. Friday through 5:59 a.m. Monday).

Drivers can do their part by planning ahead when out celebrating. Consider taking a taxi or using a designated driver. Drivers that appear to be impaired should be reported by calling 911 with the make, model, direction of travel and license plate number.

For more information, contact Tracy McMillan, Snohomish County DUI Task Force coordinator, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (425) 388-7229.