KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Extra police officers hit King County roads this Labor Day weekend as part of the state-wide “Drive Hammered, Get Nailed” Campaign. The campaign seeks to prevent motor vehicle crashes and deaths by creating an enforcement blitz on Washington roadways and urging people to drive only when sober.
Locally, Public Health - Seattle & King County, the King County Traffic Safety Coalition, and the Eastside DUI Task Force have organized extra patrols in communities throughout the county.
“Whether you spend this weekend at home with family and friends, enjoying Bumbershoot, or relaxing outdoors, remember to take extra care while driving,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. “If you drink, make certain you have a sober ride home.”
In Washington, from 1999 to 2003, 30 people died in traffic crashes over Labor Day, making it one of the deadliest holidays of the year. More than half of these people died in crashes involving a driver who had been drinking.
“Drinking and driving is a threat to each of us,” said Dorothy Teeter, Interim Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County. “Thankfully, it is easily preventable. This weekend, volunteer to serve as the designated driver for friends and family if they have had too much to drink or arrange for a taxi to take them home.”
To prevent traffic crashes over the holiday do the following:
- Before you start drinking, arrange for a sober driver to transport you
- Take a cab or bus after drinking
- Spend the night instead of driving home after a house party
- Prevent friends and family members from driving after drinking
- Always wear a seatbelt
- Report drunk drivers to law enforcement by calling 911
From 2000 to 2004, law enforcement officers arrested over 43,000 people in King County for “driving under the influence.” Officers caught over 80 percent of these impaired drivers before they crashed.
“Driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher is illegal in Washington,” said Chief Bryan Howard of the Muckleshoot Tribal Police. “If you violate this law, expect to spend the final days of summer with police officers, lawyers, judges, corrections officers, and counselors instead of your friends and family.”
The following agencies will have extra officers out over the holiday weekend:
| Auburn Police Department |
Mercer Island Police Department |
| Black Diamond Police Department |
Muckleshoot Tribal Police |
| Bellevue Police Department |
Normandy Park Police Department |
| Bothell Police Department |
Redmond Police Department |
| Burien Police Department |
Renton Police Department |
| Des Moines Police Department |
Sammamish Police Department |
| Enumclaw Police Department |
SeaTac Police Department |
| Federal Way Police Department |
Seattle Police Department |
| Issaquah Police Department |
Shoreline Police Department |
| Kent Police Department |
Snoqualmie Police Department |
| Kirkland Police Department |
Tukwila Police Department |
| Maple Valley Police Department |
Washington State Patrol |
| Medina Police Department |
Woodinville Police Department |
Public Health - Seattle & King County chairs and staffs the King County Traffic Safety Coalition. Members include representatives from a variety of King County law enforcement agencies, the Washington State Liquor Control Board, alcohol and drug prevention organizations, DUI victims’ groups, traffic engineers, non-profit organizations, and others. The Washington State Traffic Safety Commission provides funding for the Coalition and other King County traffic safety activities.
