During these patrols, 130 seatbelt infractions were written, in addition to 71 cell phone/texting or usage of other electronic device tickets. Last year, in Whatcom County, during this same time period, officers on extra patrols wrote 156 seat belt infractions and 42 cell phone violations.

In addition, one misdemeanor warrant arrest was made, and seven speeding tickets, six child passenger safety infractions as well as 29 uninsured motorists and eight suspended/revoked and non valid operator’s license violations were issued this year.

Statewide, during the patrols, law enforcement officers wrote 2,321 seatbelt violations and 1,448 cell phone/ texting tickets. Last year, during this same time period, officers on the extra patrols statewide issued 3,171 seat belt violations and 1,059 cell phone violations were written.

The Whatcom County Traffic Safety Task Force, law enforcement from Whatcom County, with more than 130 police and sheriff agencies statewide worked the extra patrols, funded by a grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

These and all extra patrols are part of Target Zero—striving to end traffic deaths and serious injuries in Washington by 2030. For more information, visit www.targetzero.com.

This is one sample of news releases customized by county throughout the state.

SPOKANE, WHITMAN, PEND OREILLE, AND FERRY COUNTIES, WA - Ever wonder why Washington has one of the highest seat belt use rates in the country? It is due, in large part, to the highly visible “Click It or Ticket” campaign which includes publicity, extra enforcement, and signage. In June 2002, when the primary seat belt law went into effect, approximately 82 percent of Washington drivers wore seat belts and today, nearly 97 percent of Washington drivers are buckling up. Now, it’s time to focus on another important traffic safety concern – distracted drivers who are texting and talking on their cell phones!

Between May 20 and June 2, motorists in Spokane, Whitman, Pend Oreille and Ferry Counties can expect to see law enforcement patrolling city and county roads in search of unbuckled drivers and passengers and drivers using their cell phones.

Last year, during this same time period, officers on routine and extra patrols statewide issued 3,171 seat belt violations amongst the 11,047 motorists who were stopped.

Similarly, last year during this time period, 1,059 cell phone violations were written.  However, taking a historical look, in 2010, (the same year cell phone use became a primary law in Washington), only 63 drivers were cited statewide.

In Spokane, Whitman, Pend Oreille and Ferry Counties, the Cheney, City of Airway Heights, Colfax, Eastern Washington University, Pullman, Republic, Spokane, Spokane Valley and Washington State University Police Departments, the Ferry, Pend Oreille, Spokane and Whitman County Sheriff’s Offices as well as the Washington State Patrol will be teaming up and participating in these extra patrols, with the support of the Spokane County Target Zero Task Force.

These and all extra patrols are part of Target Zero—striving to end traffic deaths and serious injuries in Washington by 2030.

“These programs are one reason that Washington State is a national leader in traffic safety,” says WSTC Commissioner and Spokane City Councilmember Jon Snyder. “The goal of Target Zero is to eventually eliminate traffic deaths in our state.”

For more information, visit www.targetzero.com.

UNION GAP, WA – On Wednesday March 27th at 1:00pm at the corner of Old Town Road and 1st /Main Street, Mayors Micah Cawley and Roger Wentz will be joined by concerned citizens and local agencies to launch the Yakima-Union Gap Traffic Safety Project, a two year effort to improve traffic safety along 1st /Main and Nob Hill Boulevard. This project will bring grant funds for low-cost engineering fixes and extra law enforcement patrols.

The launch will begin with the unveiling of road signs that will be installed along the corridor to remind drivers that it is a safety emphasis roadway. Following the unveiling, patrol cars and motorcycles from Yakima Police Department, Union Gap Police Department, Yakima Sheriff’s Office, and the Washington State Patrol will be released by Mayor Cawley and Mayor Wentz to start increased law enforcement safety patrols.

The 1st /Main and Nob Hill Traffic Safety Project is a two year project designed to make these roadways safer for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists and to reduce traffic crashes using low cost solutions through engineering, education and enforcement efforts. For the past year, local and state agencies have been working with community members and businesses to identify issues and develop data driven solutions for improving safety along 1st /Main and Nob Hill Boulevard, following a proven strategy employed by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission at many locations across the state. The primary goal of the project is to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries on these roadways.

Motorists and pedestrians will see:

• Increased police and liquor enforcement patrols
• Upgraded traffic signals for drivers and pedestrians
• Improved nighttime visibility
• Improved sidewalks
• Increased driver and pedestrian awareness of safety issues; and
• Reinforcement of safe behaviors for drivers and pedestrians

Nancy was born January 6, 1943. She lived in Anacortes until attending the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma. She moved to Renton and worked in city government as a councilwoman and was the driving force behind the expansion of Coulon Park.

Nancy later worked at the Kent Police Department and was instrumental in the establishment of traffic safety task forces in Washington State and their success. In 1983, Nancy was appointed as Coordinator of the Kent Drinking/Driver Task Force, which was one of the first traffic safety task forces in the State of Washington.

When she retired in 2006, she received a Superstars of Traffic Safety for lifetime achievement award, as the Kent Drinking Driver Task Force had been in existence for 23 years and the city had no alcohol-involved teen fatalities in 10 years.

Nancy’s involvement in traffic safety enabled the continued existence of the Target Zero Task Forces and saved many lives.

At the family’s request, contributions in Nancy’s honor can be made to the Kent Police Department Youth Board at the Kent Police Department, 220 4th Avenue South, Kent, WA 98032.

For more information on the Kent Police Department Youth Board, visit

http://www.ci.kent.wa.us/content.aspx?id=1350

This is one sample of news releases customized by county throughout the state.

Cowlitz County, WA – As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, remember finding a designated driver isn’t luck, it’s smart. Make sure you and your friends get home safely.

The Cowlitz County Traffic Safety Task Force is reminding drivers not to get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking alcohol. Extra patrols will be going on during the St. Patrick’s Day weekend, between March 14 and 17, where local law enforcement agencies will be actively looking for impaired drivers. Participating in these St. Patrick’s Day patrols are the Castle Rock, Kalama, Kelso, Longview and Woodland Police Departments, the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol.

“Whether you are gathering with friends at the local bar, or a private party, if alcohol is part of the festivities, following a simple plan will save you a lot of headaches,” said Samantha Thompson, Cowlitz County Target Zero manager. A DUI arrest is not the worst that can happen, you can be charged with vehicular homicide or vehicular assault if someone is killed or injured while you were driving impaired. Last July, the penalty for vehicular homicide in Washington State increased from 61 months to 78 months.

Washington State has a plan to reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries to Zero by the year 2030 through a variety of strategies, including education, engineering, emergency medical services, and enforcement. One person is killed every 53 minutes in a drunk-driving crash in the United States, the majority of these crashes involve drivers who have a blood alcohol concentration of .15 or higher. Twice the per se limit of .08.

To prevent these tragedies from occurring, the “Target Zero” task force recommends the following steps to have a safe and happy St. Patrick’s Day:
• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin.
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home.
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member.
• If you see an impaired driver, call 911.
• And remember, if you know people who are about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get where they’re going safely.

OLYMPIA, WA — Governor Jay Inslee reappointed Darrin T. Grondel as Director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. Mr. Grondel has been a traffic safety professional for more than 21 years.

“It is extremely humbling and a distinct honor and privilege to be asked to continue in this position working with dedicated and passionate traffic safety professionals every day,” Grondel said. Former Governor Christine Gregoire first appointed Grondel as Director of the Traffic Safety Commission on March 1, 2012.

Prior to his time as Director, Grondel served as a captain and the commanding officer of Washington State Patrol’s Commercial Vehicle Division (CVD). During his CVD command, Washington State Patrol was recognized nationally for lowering truck-related deaths, receiving the 2010 Commercial Vehicle Safety Award. Grondel was recognized personally when he was nominated to the Governors Distinguished Managers Association in 2009.

LEWIS COUNTY, WA – The results are in from the recent Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over DUI enforcement campaign conducted from November 21, 2012 through January 1, 2013.

In Lewis County, 52 motorists were stopped and arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI), and statewide, law enforcement officers arrested 3,446 drivers for DUI. Last year in Lewis County, during the same time period, officers on routine and extra patrols arrested 38 people for DUI.

In Lewis County, the Centralia, Chehalis, Morton, Toledo, and Winlock Police Departments, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol participated in the extra DUI patrols, with the support of the Lewis County Traffic Safety Task Force. The extra patrols were funded by a grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

The Holiday season is an important time for these patrols, given the number of Holiday festivities that often involve alcohol.

OLYMPIA, WA — Three quarters of surveyed Washington drivers thought they were likely to get a ticket for going 68 MPH on a freeway posted for 60 MPH. Over 90 percent thought they were likely to get arrested if they drove drunk. A third of drivers age 18-24 said they sent or received a text message or email while driving. These findings are in a report released today by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC).

Beginning in 2010, states are to survey residents annually on their opinions about driving and their awareness of enforcement campaigns. The 2011 Washington Driver Survey Report is available on the WTSC website.

The basic set of survey questions on self-reported seat belt use, impaired driving, and speeding was designed and tested at the national level. Washington State added a question on driver cell phone use.

Survey results are used by WTSC to track trends and evaluate the effectiveness of programs, particularly with drivers involved in fatal crashes.

Darrin Grondel, Director of the WTSC, expanded, “Evaluating drivers’ attitudes and awareness is very important to us. This information shows us the best ways we can reach our goals in Target Zero.”

Target Zero is Washington State’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan with a vision of zero traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, who funds the survey, can use core outcome and behavior measures as part of its reporting to Congress and the public.

Darrin Grondel, Director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission was delighted by the recognition. “I am thrilled this film has helped to recognize Tribal members and residents of the Colville Reservation for their spectacular work in reducing traffic deaths and injuries. They have been excellent traffic safety partners in helping us implement Target Zero.”

Target Zero, Washington’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan, has a vision of zero traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

The reservation has achieved a significant drop in fatal crashes. How has this happened? In the documentary Tribal member and Tribal Police Officer, Tony Marchand highlights one of the keys, “I think the biggest change, it all comes from the top. I think from the Business Council down to the Public Safety Director, to the Chief and to the rest of the sergeants on down to the patrol officers.”

Contributing to the reductions in traffic deaths are public education by several Tribal groups, roadway safety improvements made by the Tribal Transportation Department and efforts by EMS Fire and Rescue of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation

Tribal member and Inchelium Ferry Pilot, Daryle Marchand, said it best, “To actually make an impact, you need to get everybody involved, not just one little group. I mean the whole community needs to be involved.”