Every few months The Herald prints a press release about some crime or traffic task force which is supposed to do something. They always use existing personnel which are temporally assigned from some unnamed task. The Herald never asks any interesting questions about the press release. For example, regarding this latest DUI patrol:
The 15 available personnel who are being assigned – were they doing anything useful or important before the special team was formed? What important stuff isn’t going to be done during the existence of the DUI team?
Or are they going to be paid overtime to work these patrols? If so, this would work out to about $1,500 per hour in extra costs, yes?
There were 12 alcohol-related fatal accidents in 2005. How many non-alcohol involved accidents were there? Is alcohol statistically significant?
Why are DUIs easier to spot while a special patrol is in operation? Do troopers ignore DUIs at other times? Or are they going to stake out taverns at closing time? If so, are they also going to stake out the fancy bars where rich people and politicians do their drinking?
Bill Wald
Everett
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