About a year ago, the Washington State Patrol launched a new anti-speeding initiative in Snohomish County. They analyzed data to find when and where the most speed-related wrecks occurred. They wanted to find ways to prevent serious and fatal crashes. Then they worked with local police, including the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office and the city of Everett, to target speeding hot spots. Here’s what happened.
View Washington State Patrol speeding hot spots in a larger map
Troopers working the patrols stopped nearly 23,500 vehicles during the 2012 crackdown, according to WSP data. Of those, more than 11,000 stops involved alleged speeding.
The numbers don’t include stops by sheriff’s deputies or Everett traffic cops, some of whom are working city and county roads.
About a third of the stops on the county’s west side happened between 128th Street SW and the Lowell area of Everett. Another big chunk occurred along I-5 between Pacific Avenue and the Snohomish River. Out east, well, there is U.S. 2.
Troopers used squad cars, motorcycles and aircraft.
“It’s not about writing tickets, it’s about changing people’s behavior,” Sgt. Kirk Rudeen said. “Sometimes it takes writing a ticket to get people’s behavior to change.”
The State Patrol doesn’t keep the hot spot patrols a secret.
They want you to know where they are.
More online
Police agencies team up to nab speeders (2012)
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