The Washington State Patrol has created a special law enforcement team whose goal is to reduce alcohol related accidents. By not being responsible for other service calls or accident investigations, the five permanently assigned state patrol troopers will be able focus their efforts exclusively on identifying and arresting drunk drivers.
The team will deploy in Snohomish County, where there were 768 accidents last year involving alcohol. They will patrol all roadways, from back-roads to major highways, paying special attention to habitual problem highways, like areas with a concentration of bars. The patrols will be in force four nights a week.
The group can supplement its manpower with up to 18 additional troopers each night.
The special DUI patrol is modeled after a similar team created in Spokane County, which now averages 200 DUI arrests a year.
