The Puyallup City Council unanimously approved a resolution to authorize its city manager to renew an interlocal agreement that would continue the partnership between the Puyallup Police Department and the Tacoma/Pierce County DUI and Traffic Safety Task Force.

The agreement, passed by city council on Feb. 7, will help to continue the multi-agency efforts between Puyallup and other jurisdictions to detect and reduce impaired driving, underage drinking and traffic offenses associated with driving impaired.

“The Puyallup department hosts at least two multi-agency patrols throughout the year where we invite outside agencies,” Puyallup Deputy Chief Bryan Jeter said. “We also have four additional DUI emphasis patrols that are in-house. Between 15 to 20 additional officers are out on patrol during the multi-agency DUI emphasis patrols. It definitely makes an impact on impaired driving.”

Jeter said 10-17 DUI arrests are made during the multi-agency emphasis patrols. The interlocal agreement provides additional funding for in-house patrols, Jeter said.

Anywhere from two to four officers are put out for internal emphasis patrols. Officers’ costs are paid for with grants from the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission, as well as the DUI cost recovery program that was put in place by RCW in January 2011, Jeter said.

The revised agreement also puts in place new language on Pierce County’s party intervention patrols and the Target Zero enforcement teams. Target Zero has a goal of eliminating traffic fatalities caused by impaired drivers to zero by 2030.

Last year, the Puyallup Police Department made 400 DUI arrests within the city limits. Sgt. Bob Thompson said the cost recovery program allowed by state law since January has helped the department focus its efforts on DUI emphasis patrols. Fines paid by DUI offenders go into enforcement costs accrued by the department.

“RCW allows for emergency services to bill for the amount of time they spend processing DUI drivers,” Thompson said. “That includes the amount of time the officer spends in initial contact, the booking, processing, the paperwork, the car use and the computer use.”

Thompson said last year’s 400 arrests in city limits were fewer than 2010.

“The decrease in Puyallup is a testament to the success of the Target Zero team,” he said.

The agreement is a two-year contract with an automatic extension for two years, Thompson said.

“We’re appreciative of the council’s support for these patrols, for the interlocal agreement and for the whole traffic safety issue,” Jeter said. “The city council (is) big supporters of public safety.”

Reporter Andrew Fickes can be reached at 253-841-2481, ext. 313, or by email at andrew.fickes@puyallupherald.com. Follow him on Twitter, @herald_andrew.