The Memorial Day weekend was remarkable for being unremarkable on state highways within Snohomish County.
There were no serious injury accidents or fatal collisions.
That doesn’t mean local law enforcement agencies weren’t busy.
Washington State Patrol troopers in Snohomish County arrested 66 drivers they believed to be impaired by drugs or alcohol during the three-day weekend. That accounted for 21 percent of the total suspected DUI drivers pulled over on highways across the state.
Troopers arrested 307 suspected impaired drivers across the state. Last year, there were 280.
“The hard work by the troopers removing these drivers was extremely effective as we did not investigate any serious injury or fatal collisions on interstate and state routes in Snohomish County,” Trooper Keith Leary said.
Eight people died on Washington highways over the Memorial Day weekend in both 2010 and 2011.
Memorial Day weekend traditionally has meant heavy use of Washington’s roadways. For many families, it is the first three-day weekend to pursue outdoor activities, such as camping, boating or visiting a favorite lake, Leary said. It’s often the first time many people take their motorcycle, travel trailer or motor home out for the year.
Other agencies kept a close eye for drunken drivers and speeders on county roads and city streets.
During the weekend, nearly two dozen Snohomish County law enforcement officers took part in a DUI emphasis, paid for by a grant from the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission. Agencies that took part were the Snohomish County sheriff’s office and police departments in Arlington, Brier, Edmonds, Everett, Granite Falls, Lake Stevens, Lynnwood, Marysville, Mill Creek, Monroe, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, Snohomish and Tulalip.
Statistics on DUI arrests from other agencies were not immediately available.
As warm weather approaches, Leary said it is important for people who plan to drink alcohol to make arrangements to have someone else drive.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com
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