FACT SHEET

Slow Down or Pay Up

April 5, 2007

During the first and second waves of the speed enforcement campaign in Pierce and Snohomish counties almost 29,000 motorist stops were made, resulting in more than 21,000 infractions/citations being issued. More than 16,000 of those were written for speeding. (WTSC)

In addition to the substantial number of speeding citations written during the first and second waves of this campaign, law enforcement officers also detained and/or cited drivers for infractions including (though not inclusive of Puyallup, Sumner and Tacoma PD second wave results): (WTSC)

• 37 individuals taken into custody on outstanding felony warrants and 11 additional felony arrests made
• 15 stolen cars were recovered
• 138 individuals arrested on misdemeanor warrants
• 694 individuals arrested for driving with a suspended or revoked license
• 2,122 drivers cited as uninsured motorists

• 26 individuals arrested for driving under the influence (DUI)
• 54 individuals arrested for drug-related offenses
• 16 individuals arrested for other alcohol infractions/citations such as underage drinking and open containers
• 223 citations issued relating to aggressive driving
• 14 individuals arrested for reckless driving
• 1,810 seat belt infractions were issued
• 75 infractions issued for child passenger safety
• 211 infractions/citations issued for other criminal activity
• 34 infractions issued for intermediate driver license restriction violations

During 2005, there were more than 29,000 speed-related collisions in the state. This represents 1 in every 5 collisions. These speed-related collisions resulted in 219 fatalities, more than 16,000 injuries and 1.6 billion dollars in costs to society. (WSDOT)

This campaign is significant as it is a pilot project, the goal of which is to reduce collisions and the average speed of motorists. If successful in these two counties, it may be replicated in other jurisdictions statewide. (WTSC)

The final wave of speeding enforcement is scheduled for July 2007. (WTSC)


PIERCE COUNTY
In Pierce County, the first wave of enforcement started Thursday, October 5 and included 15 days during the month of October 2006. The second wave took place between January 25 and February 20, 2007. (WTSC)

During the first two enforcement waves, Pierce County Law enforcement made more than 18,400 motorist stops and wrote in excess of 10,600 speeding citations. (WTSC)

The speed enforcement zone encompasses State Highway 161 on the east border, State Highway 7 on the west, 176th St. E. on the south and State Highway 512 on the north. (WTSC)

During 2005, on the roadways that border the enforcement zone, there were 1,036 collisions, 352 of those were speed-related and resulted in 28 serious injury collisions, and another 145 possible injury collisions. For State Highways 7, 161, and 512 (three of the borders in the Pierce County enforcement area) there has been a 42% increase in speed-related collisions between 2003 and 2005, while the total number of collisions on the same roadways and timeframe have increased only 13%. (WSDOT, PCPW)

Taken as whole, more than 1/3 of all the state highway collisions in the enforcement zone involved speeding drivers. (WSDOT)

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) is providing more than $300,000 to fund the extra speed enforcement waves in Pierce County which places up to 18 extra officers per ten hour shift on the roadways in the enforcement zone. (WTSC)

SNOHOMISH COUNTY
In Snohomish County, the first wave of enforcement took place from November 4 – 13, 2006 and the second wave took place between February 25 and March 10, 2007. (WTSC)

During the first two enforcement waves, Snohomish County Law enforcement made 10,373 motorist stops and wrote 5,631 speeding citations. (WTSC)

There are three speed enforcement zones in Snohomish County, (South, North and East) which will include portions of nine state highways, along with seven other local roadways.  The South zone includes State Highways 9, 524, 527 and Interstate 405, along with 180th St SE; the North zone includes Highways 9, 528 and 531, as well as 67th Ave NE; and the East zone includes Highways 2, 9, 92 and 204, along with Machias Rd, 2nd St/92nd St SE, Ludwig Rd, Bickford Ave, and Lundeen Parkway. (WTSC)

During 2005, on those portions of state highway within the enforcement zones, there were 522 collisions, 170 of which were speed-related, resulting in 1 fatal collision, 20 serious injury collisions, and another 61 possible injury collisions.  Taken as whole, 1/3 of all the state highway collisions in the enforcement zones involved speeding drivers. (WSDOT, SCPW)

The WTSC is providing more than $300,000 to fund extra speeding enforcement patrols in Snohomish County placing more than 35 extra officers per shift on the roadways in the enforcement zones. (WTSC)

WTSC | Washington Traffic Safety Commission
WSDOT | Washington State Department of Transportation
PCPW | Pierce County Public Works
SCPW | Snohomish County Public Works