Find local, regional DUI patrol locations online
August 24, 2011
NEW — 6 a.m. Aug. 24, 2011
State traffic officials revealed the locations of planned driving under the influence patrols on a website for motorists.
Before hitting the road, steer to waTikiLeaks.com to find police patrols in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. The interactive map includes dates, times and locations for planned DUI patrols, such as the emphasis on Issaquah roads during Labor Day weekend.
Though sharing information to help motorists potentially avoid tickets and arrests might seem counterintuitive, officials said the website is another method to promote safe and sober driving on a community level.
The website also features a mobile version, so users can view the information on smart phones, and sharing options to post information to Twitter or Facebook.
Officers target speeders during recent crackdown
August 23, 2011
Issaquah police officers and law enforcement agencies countywide doled out more than 1,200 speeding tickets during a recent crackdown on lead-footed motorists.
From July 15 to Aug. 7, the Issaquah Police Department and other agencies sent out extra law enforcement patrols to search for speeding drivers.
During the patrols in King County, officers wrote 1,245 speeding tickets. Police also arrested three motorists for driving under the influence, three motorists for felonies and four for aggressive driving violations.
Officers issued 15 cellphone citations, six seatbelt tickets, 15 suspended or revoked license violations, and 50 uninsured motorist violations.
The speeding crackdown included the nearby Bellevue, Newcastle, North Bend, Sammamish, Snoqualmie and Renton police departments.
In addition to the local police agencies, the King County Target Zero Task Force supported the extra patrols, funded by a grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
‘Drive Hammered, Get Nailed’ anti-DUI effort starts soon
August 16, 2011
Issaquah police officers plan to join a regional push to pull drunken drivers from local roads as summer comes to a close.
The agency is joining other police departments in King County — and more than 10,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide — from Aug. 19 to Sept. 5 in the Drive Hammered, Get Nailed campaign.
Beneath the clever title is a serious message about the impacts of drunken driving and driving under the influence. DUI crashes claimed 38 people on King County roads last year.
Police to crack down on speeders starting July 15
July 12, 2011
Prepare to slow down — or else — on local roadways soon as law enforcement officers throughout King County participate in a statewide speeding crackdown.
The countywide Target Zero Task Force is coordinating the extra speed patrols for the July 15 to Aug. 7 effort.
Driving faster than posted speed limits may not seem like a big deal, but more than 40 percent of fatal crashes in Washington involve a speeding driver. The average speeding ticket in Washington is $156, but as speed increases, so does the fine.
“Speeding is a major contributing factor in fatal and serious injury crashes in Washington, and therefore, is a priority of Target Zero,” Lowell Porter, Washington Traffic Safety Commission director, said in a statement. “
The commission is also encouraging motorists to take a quiz at www.considerthisyourwarning.com to learn more about traffic safety and speeding dangers.
Officers to start cracking down on speeders soon
July 7, 2011
NEW — 6 a.m. July 7, 2011
Prepare to slow down — or else — on local roadways soon as law enforcement officers throughout King County participate in a statewide speeding crackdown.
The countywide Target Zero Task Force is coordinating the extra speed patrols for the July 15 to Aug. 7 effort.
Driving faster than posted speed limits may not seem like a big deal, but more than 40 percent of fatal crashes in Washington involve a speeding driver. The average speeding ticket in Washington is $156, but as speed increases, so does the fine.
Police cite motorists for failing to buckle up
June 14, 2011
Police issued 288 tickets for seatbelt offenses during a recent effort to encourage motorists to buckle up.
From May 23 to June 5, the Issaquah Police Department and other law enforcement agencies patrolled local roads at night, looking for unbelted motorists.
Overall, police issued more than 600 citations for seatbelt violations and other infractions. The citations included 192 cellphone and texting violations, 40 speeding tickets and two aggressive driving infractions. Officers made six misdemeanor warrant arrests, and issued 85 uninsured motorist and 24 suspended or revoked license violations.
Statewide, law enforcement officers and the Washington State Patrol wrote 6,681 tickets, including 2,994 seatbelt violations, during the patrols.
In King County, the Target Zero Task Force and local law enforcement agencies worked the extra patrols. Funding for the patrols came from a Washington State Traffic Commission grant.
“Buckling up is the simplest and most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in the car.” Kent Police Sgt. Robert Constant, South King County law enforcement liaison, said in a news release.
Police cite almost 300 motorists for failing to buckle up
June 12, 2011
NEW — 6 a.m. June 12, 2011
Police issued 288 tickets for seatbelt tickets during a recent effort to encourage motorists to buckle up.
From May 23 to June 5, the Issaquah Police Department and other law enforcement agencies patrolled local roads at night, looking for unbuckled motorists.
Overall, police issued more than 600 citations for seatbelts violations and other infractions. The citations included 192 cellphone and texting violations, 40 speeding tickets and two aggressive driving infractions. Officers made six misdemeanor warrant arrests, and issued 85 uninsured motorist and 24 suspended or revoked license violations.
Extra seat belt patrols will hit local roadways soon
May 17, 2011
Issaquah police officers remind drivers and passengers to buckle up — or face a $124 ticket.
Motorists can expect to see law enforcement officers patrolling city and King County roadways to search for unbuckled and improperly buckled drivers and passengers from May 23 to June 5.
Officials recorded 2,866 deaths and 13,749 serious injuries in motor vehicle collisions statewide between 2005-09. The medical costs from vehicle collisions amount to more than $276 million per year in Washington.
Experts said wearing a seat belt decreases the chance of dying or sustaining serious injuries in a collision by about 70 percent.
“Law enforcement officers would rather have motorists buckle up than write a seat belt infraction,” Lowell Porter, Washington Traffic Safety Commission director, said in a press release. “The evidence is clear that seat belts save lives. By increasing seat belt use, Washington continues to reduce the costs incurred by those who don’t buckle up.”
In addition to the Issaquah Police Department, Washington State Patrol troopers and the King County Target Zero Task Force plan to participate in the extra patrols.
Extra seat belt patrols hit local roadways soon
May 13, 2011
NEW — 8 a.m. May 13, 2011
Issaquah police officers remind drivers and passengers to buckle up — or face a $124 ticket.
Motorists can expect to see law enforcement officers patrolling city and King County roadways to search for unbuckled and improperly buckled drivers and passengers from May 23 to June 5.
Officials recorded 2,866 deaths and 13,749 serious injuries in motor vehicle collisions statewide between 2005-09. The medical costs from vehicle collisions amount to more than $276 million per year in Washington.
Experts said wearing a seat belt decreases the chance of dying or sustaining serious injures in a collision by about 70 percent.
Police plan extra DUI patrols for Cinco de Mayo
May 5, 2011
NEW — 10 a.m. May 5, 2011
Police plan to fan out across King County roads Thursday to search for intoxicated Cinco de Mayo motorists.
Holidays, such as Cinco de Mayo or St. Patrick’s Day, tend to be particularly high-risk times for crashes to occur due to the amount of alcohol consumption.
Target Zero teams from the Washington State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies throughout the county plan to watch for impaired drivers Thursday night and early Friday morning.
“Impaired drivers kill and seriously injure hundreds of people across King County each year,” Bellevue Police Department Lt. Marcia Harnden said in a release. “We are serious about removing these dangerous drivers from the road. Please designate a sober driver, take a taxi or bus.”
