Extra highway traffic patrols set for holiday weekend

Published 7:34 pm Thursday, November 25, 2010

MARYSVILLE — People planning to rush to retail stores to take advantage of deep discounts may want to slow it down a bit.

“We don’t want people to have ‘70 percent off’ on their minds and throw their driving safety out,” said Keith Leary, a Washington State Patrol spokesman. “Just because it’s Thanksgiving, we don’t give breaks.”

Beginning today, officials plan to have about 17 extra state troopers patrolling Snohomish County roads and highways right through the New Year’s holiday, Leary said.

The goal is to reduce drunken and reckless driving.

“We want people to make sure they have a safe holiday and get to their festivities and home without incidents,” Leary said.

Last year, there were no fatalities on state roads in Snohomish County on Thanksgiving, he said. That’s a statistic officials hope to repeat.

The state’s efforts to curb deaths related to drunken driving gained national attention recently.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving honored the Washington State Patrol with the Outstanding Law Enforcement Agency Award for its work in 2008.

Troopers in 2008 made more than 20,240 arrests of impaired drivers, making up about half the drunken-driving arrests statewide. That’s one reason the percentage of alcohol-related traffic deaths continues to fall.

“I am very proud of our troopers for their outstanding work that resulted in this prestigious award.” Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste said. “We will continue to work hard to make a difference every day by providing the best in public safety services.”

Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.