‘Hammered’ patrols net 37 DUI arrests

During the “Drive Hammered, Get Nailed” enforcement campaign Aug. 14 to Sept. 7 a total of 37 motorists in Whitman County were stopped and arrested for driving under the influence. Statewide, law enforcement officers arrested 2,818 drivers for DUI.

In Whitman County, the WSU police department, Whitman County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol participated in the extra emphasis patrols which were funded by a grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

Impaired driving is the leading cause of traffic deaths in Washington. During 2008, impaired drivers killed nearly half of the 522 people who died on Washington’s roadways. The 251 impaired driver-involved deaths last year represent a decrease of 22 fatalities compared to the previous five-year average.