Extra DUI patrols coming to Pierce County roads

Additional DUI emphasis patrols aimed at keeping Pierce County roads safe during the holidays will kick off Thursday.

Additional law enforcement officers will patrol the streets through Jan. 1, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

Participating agencies will include police from Bonney Lake, Dupont, Fife, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Milton, Puyallup, Ruston, Steilacoom, Sumner, Tacoma and University Place.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department and the Washington State Patrol will take part as well.

Fatal crashes involving DUIs in Washington have continued to climb in recent years.

Last year, 51 fatal crashes involved just alcohol, 51 fatal crashes involved one drug or less than the legal alcohol limit of 0.08 and 146 fatal crashes involved a driver who tested positive for alcohol and drugs, according to Safety Commission statistics.

This story was originally published December 12, 2016 at 12:54 PM with the headline "Extra DUI patrols coming to Pierce County roads."