The will join the Washington State Patrol and several other King County law enforcement agencies in participating in enhanced DUI patrols from Aug. 17 to Sept. 3.
During that time period, extra officers will be looking for impaired drivers as part of the annual "Drive Hammered, Get Nailed" effort. Along with Mercer Island, other participating jurisdictions include: Auburn, Bellevue, Black Diamond, Burien, Clyde Hill, Covington, Des Moines, Duvall, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Maple Valley, Newcastle, North Bend, Pacific, Port of Seattle, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, SeaTac, Seattle, Snoqualmie and Tukwila.
Last year's campaign resulted in 452 DUI arrests—roughly 4 percent of the 10,331 people who were charged with DUI in King County that year.
Police are also reminding people to call 911 if they notice signs of impairment in another driver. Here are some things to watch out for, as provided by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission:
Drunk drivers can exhibit a variety of behaviors depending upon impairment level. For example, those who know they are impaired:
- Travel slower than the posted speed limit
- Appear to be drunk (face close to the windshield)
- Slow responses to traffic signals, sudden stops, tapping of brake lights
- Travel side to side within and outside of their laneThose who don’t think they are impaired generally drive a little more aggressively and:
- Speed
- Follow too closely
- Change lanes abruptly (weaving in and out of traffic)
- Travel side to side within and outside of their lane
