A summer DUI enforcement campaign to catch impaired drivers on the road begins next week in the Mid-Columbia and across the state.
The Drive Hammered, Get Nailed extra patrols planned for Aug. 12 to Sept. 6 is said to be the largest summer enforcement campaign, with 172 agencies participating.
Benton and Franklin county agencies that will be out in force looking for drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol include Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, West Richland, Connell and Prosser police, the Benton and Franklin county sheriff's offices and the Washington State Patrol.
Last year, 264 people died in crashes involving an alcohol- or drug-impaired driver; 255 people were killed in 2008 and 272 in 2007.
Traffic safety officials say 31 percent of traffic-impaired driving deaths in the state occurred during the summer months between 2000 and 2009, and Labor Day weekend is one of the state's deadliest holidays, averaging seven deaths each year.
Similar stories:
DUI patrols to increase
DUI patrols to increase
With Labor Day and the end of summer just around the corner, law enforcement officers are stepping up patrols to take impaired drivers off the streets.
A special enforcement patrol targeting drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs starts today and runs through Sept. 5.
Extra patrols will be conducted by the Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, West Richland and Prosser police departments, the Benton County and Franklin County sheriff's offices and the Washington State Patrol.
Extra DUI patrols planned for New Year
Extra DUI patrols planned for New Year
Mid-Columbians planning to ring in 2012 at a New Year's Eve party, singing Auld Lang Syne and celebrating with champagne also better plan on having a designated driver to get them home.
Law enforcement officers in Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, Benton County, Franklin County and along state highways in the Tri-Cities will be participating in extra patrols during the New Year's holiday, looking for drivers under the influence of alcohol.
"If a person is choosing to go out and consume alcoholic beverages, have a plan, don't drink and drive because there will be plenty of officers out looking for impaired drivers," said Kennewick police Sgt. Ken Lattin.
Extra patrols target impaired drivers
Extra patrols target impaired drivers
KENNEWICK -- Law enforcement in Benton and Franklin counties, as well as law enforcement across the state, have been participating in impaired driver patrols since Thanksgiving weekend and will continue through New Year's day.
Participating locally in the "Drive Hammered, Get Nailed" campaign are the Kennewick, Richland and Pasco police departments, the Benton and Franklin county sheriff's offices and the Washington State Patrol.
Impaired driving is the leading factor in traffic deaths in Washington. Last year, impaired drivers contributed to the deaths of more than half of the 491 people who died on Washington's roadways.
No fatal crashes reported over New Year's weekend
No fatal crashes reported over New Year's weekend
Most drivers in the Tri-Cities appeared to make the right choices while celebrating the new year by not drinking and driving.
No fatal or serious-injury crashes were reported over the holiday weekend in Benton and Franklin counties.
Officers in the Tri-Cities also participated in extra DUI patrols as part of the state's holiday DUI enforcement campaign that began on Thanksgiving and ran through Jan. 2.
Emphasis patrols result in 481 tickets
Emphasis patrols result in 481 tickets
Tri-City law enforcement officers ticketed 481 speeding drivers during a special three-week emphasis patrol.
The speed patrols, which ran July 15 to Aug. 7, also focused on aggressive or impaired drivers, drivers breaking the cellphone law and motorists who weren't buckled up.
Officers also issued 13 aggressive driving citations, 18 cellphone violations, 44 seat belt infractions and nine child passenger safety violations, officials said.
Print
Email Story
