Seattle Police launch nightly DUI patrols citywide this month

Every night throughout December, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) Traffic Section will have officers patrolling the streets of Seattle looking for impaired drivers.

Officers will be watching busy streets and putting an extra focus on popular nightlife areas in an effort to stop drivers before causing an injury or fatality while impaired, SPD announced.

“It is a top priority for the Seattle Police Department and the Traffic Section to identify and safely detain impaired drivers who put our communities at risk by operating motor vehicles on our roadways,” SPD Traffic Section Captain Randy Ward said.

SPD conducts nightly DUI enforcement throughout December

For the first time since 2019, SPD will launch a DUI emphasis team that will work each night from 6 p.m. until 4 a.m., throughout Seattle.

“Our hand-selected team for this year’s emphasis is all highly trained, experienced, and motivated police officers with a passion for this work,” Ward stated. “They will sacrifice time with loved ones over the holiday season to focus on this critical effort, and I would like to personally thank them for their dedicated service.”

Along with nightly patrols, SPD will work alongside the Washington State Patrol, Kent Police Department, and other agencies across King County on Dec. 19 for the “Night of 1000 Stars.”

The initiative is an annual enforcement effort that focuses on traffic safety and removing impaired drivers from WA roads. “Night of 1000 Stars” is part of the City of Seattle’s “Vision Zero” and Washington State Traffic Safety Commission’s “Target Zero” campaigns that strive to reduce traffic fatalities.

SPD noted it is illegal to drive or be in physical control of a motor vehicle while affected by alcohol or drugs, or with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) at or above 0.08%.

“We hope our community makes safe driving choices this holiday season. Make a plan, use rideshare or a taxi, or use a designated driver,” Sergeant Tom Heller said. “Pro tip: the designated driver needs to be actually sober, not just the least intoxicated person in the car!”

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