St. Patrick’s Day: No excuse to drink and drive, police say

  • Shannon Sessions<br>Lynnwood / Mountlake Terrace Enterprise editor
  • Monday, March 3, 2008 6:47am

LYNNWOOD — St. Patrick’s Day is March 17, and it’s not only known as a day when everyone’s Irish but also as a drinking holiday.

According to police officials, Snohomish and King County deputies will be out in force from happy hour throughout the night.

And so will local city law enforcement, said Lynnwood Officer Mark Brinkman, who has had the most DUI arrests in the state, county and city for two years in a row.

Last year alone Brinkman had 240 arrests and 240 prosecutions.

Brinkman, who has been honored for his ability to spot a DUI driver any time or day of the month, said St. Patrick’s Day or any holiday is just an excuse for people to go out and drink.

“I’m going to be out looking for and finding DUI’s anytime of the week, not just on holidays.”

Brinkman added, a person doesn’t have to blow a .08, the state’s legal alcohol limit, to be arrested for DUI.

Brinkman said if you must drink alcohol and leave your home, plan ahead.

“Take a taxi to the bar so you’ll have to take the taxi back home,” Brinkman said. “Or have an established designated driver — and make sure the designated driver doesn’t drink, because I’ve arrested plenty of them for DUI too.”

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