Extra law enforcement patrols for drunken drivers planned on the North Olympic Peninsula began Friday and will continue through Labor Day, Sept. 5, during the annual national Drive Hammered, Get Nailed campaign.
During the same time period in 2010 in Clallam and Jefferson Counties, officers on routine and extra patrols arrested 30 people for investigation of driving under the influence, the state Traffic Safety Commission said.
For all of 2010 in Clallam and Jefferson Counties, 492 people were charged with DUI, the commission said.
A new law called “Hailey’s Law” went into effect July 22.
Vehicles driven by people arrested for investigation of driving under the influence will be towed and impounded for at least 12 hours.
Only a registered or legal owner who was not in the car at the time of the arrest is allowed to get the car out of impound before the mandatory 12 hours.
“This new law helps eliminate the danger of drunk drivers getting back into their cars and putting everyone at risk,” said Lowell Porter, director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
“Now all drunk drivers face the costs of towing and impound in addition to jail time, losing their driver’s license and the high cost of a DUI.”
Extra Peninsula patrols will be undertaken by the Port Angeles, Sequim and Port Townsend police departments; the Clallam County and Jefferson County sheriff’s offices; and the State Patrol.
The Clallam County DUI Traffic Safety Task Force and the Jefferson County Traffic Safety Task Force organize and support this enforcement effort.
Nearly 10,000 other agencies nationwide participate in the Drive Hammered, Get Nailed campaign, the traffic safety commission said.
For more information about the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, visit www.wtsc.wa.gov.