Holiday DUI emphasis patrols now underway in Pierce County
Extra law enforcement officers hit Pierce County streets starting Wednesday as part of a holiday DUI patrol.
More than 145 agencies statewide will participate in the emphasis patrols, which end Jan. 2 and focus on pulling over impaired drivers.
“Buzzed driving is drunk driving,” Fife police Sgt. Farris said in a statement. “Don’t make that mistake. If you do, we will have the unfortunate job of arresting you.”
Participating in the patrols are police from Bonney Lake, Buckley, DuPont, Fife, Fircrest, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Milton, Orting, Puyallup, Ruston, Steilacoom, Sumner, Tacoma and University Place as well as the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department and the Washington State Patrol.
Nearly half of all traffic deaths in the state involve an impaired driver, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
Drivers impaired by more than one substance are the most common involved in fatal crashes, and the number of poly-drug drivers has increased about 15 percent ever year since 2012, the agency said.
This story was originally published December 11, 2019 at 10:07 AM.
