Police departments in Snohomish County will make their annual contribution to the holiday season – busting drunken drivers.
Extra officers from Arlington, Edmonds, Everett, Lynnwood, Marysville, Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace and the Washington State Patrol have hit the road to crack down on people driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The additional patrols started Monday and will continue through Jan. 2. The big push is this weekend, said Tracy McMillan, coordinator for the Snohomish County DUI Task Force.
The patrols are being funded by grants from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. The grants help departments pay overtime to officers who target drunken driving.
Last year’s officers stopped 1,161 people during the “Drive Hammered – Get Nailed” patrols. The officers arrested 46 people for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Drunken driving continues to be the single-largest cause of fatal crashes statewide, McMillan said.
“We strongly encourage people to plan ahead, use designated drivers, stay in hotels, get taxis and do whatever it takes to make sure that the person behind the wheel is sober,” she said.
Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.
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