YAKIMA COUNTY TRAFFIC SAFETY TASK FORCE

Edica Esqueda Target Zero Manager 401 Homer Street Sunnyside, WA 98944 Office: 509.836.6216 Cell: 509-781-0603 Fax: 509-837-5873 EEsqueda@ci.sunnyside.wa.us

The Yakima County Traffic Safety Task Force collaborates with local media outlets, volunteers, and government leaders to help educate citizens on traffic safety issues as well as promote safe driving methods.

 

News and Events:

Yakama Nation Tribal Police and Washington State Patrol Join Efforts to Stop Impaired Driving on the Reservation

The Washington State Patrol and the Yakama Nation Tribal Police are making great efforts to work together to curb traffic injuries and fatalities on the Yakama Nation Reservation.  PHOTO This partnership is needed to show Yakama Nation members and outside travelers that the reservation is being patrolled heavily by Yakama Nation Police, WSP troopers, and Yakima County Traffic Safety Task Force partners.  The Task Force is comprised of all Yakima County law enforcement agencies and has made a commitment to patrolling Highway 97 and surrounding areas. This area has many traffic fatalities and injuries year after year.   In 2009 more enforcement will be in place in hope to saving lives. 

X-52 - - Extra Patrols Every Week

The Yakima County Traffic Safety Task Force announces that there will be several extra patrols out within Yakima County enforcing speeding and DUI laws.  Eleven extra patrols went out on October 3, 2008 and issued 99 speeding violations to drivers.  Speeding is large problem locally with many fatal crashes involving speeding drivers.  On October 31, 2008 (Halloween), 14 extra patrols were out and made 15 DUI arrests.  Alcohol and driving can be a deadly combination.  Around 40% of all fatal crashes involve alcohol - that number is significantly higher in Yakima County with well over 50% of fatalities involving alcohol.  Officers across Yakima County are always looking out for speed and DUI violations but extra patrols will be in our area monthly throughout 2009. Please make our job easier and obey the rules of the road, slow down and don’t drink and drive! 

Traffic School

The Sunnyside Police Department and the Sunnyside Municipal Court are offering a “Traffic School” program on a deferment basis as an alternative to traffic infractions.  Traffic School is only available to people who qualify under the guidelines of the program and receive a deferred judgment from the Sunnyside Municipal Court Judge.  Traffic School can reduce the violator’s chance of increased insurance costs and provide new information to drivers within the community.  Traffic School provides Sunnyside Police Department a chance to reconnect with the occasional traffic violator and instruct on basic rules of the road, new traffic laws, and consequences to poor driving behavior.  For more information or questions on the new Traffic School deferment program please feel free to call the Sunnyside Police Department at (509) 836-6216.

http://www.ci.sunnyside.wa.us/services/police/trafficschool.php

Moxee Hop Festival
DRIVE HAMMERED GET NAILED
August

Every year the Yakima County Traffic Safety Task Force coordinates extra DUI patrols for Moxee Hop Festival.  Agencies from across Yakima County including Yakima County Department of Corrections are out in great numbers.  The Department of Corrections provides “Safe Rides” to jail for all those arrested during the special emphasis patrols freeing up officer time.  This patrol is in collaboration with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission's X52 mobilization - Extra Patrols Every Week.

Peter Garland Memorial Emphasis Patrol
July
Yakima & Klickitat Counties

Remember & Honoring the Life that was Taken, Sgt. Peter D. Garland

Sgt. Peter Garland, 15 year veteran officer of the Klickitat County Sheriff's Department, lost his life in a car accident due to a criminally negligent driver.  Because another driver on Highway 97 made several wrong decisions - substance abuse, speeding, attempting to pass in a no-passing zone on a hill and in a curve - a fatal accident occurred that could have easily been avoided by obeying traffic safety laws.

Because of one reckless driver's choice to execute an illegal pass in an attempt to shave a minute off his driving time, a husband (and father, son and brother, deputy and deacon, and friend) was killed almost instantly in a head-on collision.  That reckless driver stole the life of a good man, taking Sgt. Garland away from his wife and two foster sons, his family and four siblings, his church and his law enforcement family, and the community that he dedicated his life "to protect and to serve."

One driver's impulsive actions caused the death of the Garland family's hopes and dreams, and created a giant void in the community at large where Garland had served as deputy, D.A.R.E. Officer, Sgt., and Volunteer Search and Rescue Coordinator.  His was a life dedicated to serving God, his family, and his fellow man... and as his surviving family, we have one request:

We urge YOU not to drive recklessly, negligently, or under the influence of drugs and alcohol, so that YOU will never be responsible for destroying not only your life, but also the lives of other travelers and the families who love them.  Your life is precious... be careful out there!

DUI Victim Signs; Families want to let motorists know that DUI kills

The Yakima County Traffic Safety Task Force has come together and decided that the pictures currently on the DUI Victim Signs will be rotated. Victim's currently on the signs have been so effective these lasts few years; we felt that it was time to extend this opportunity to other families in Yakima County. There have been questions to when the pictures will be changed; the Task Force has developed a subcommittee to address the issues. If you are interested in becoming a member of the DUI Victim's Sign Subcommittee or know someone who may be interested in submitting a picture for the DUI Victim Signs please contact Edica at 509-836-6216.

Night of a Thousand Stars
December

The Night of a Thousand Stars patrols have been a proven success over the years. Every year Officers, Troopers, and Sheriff's Deputies are out in full force enforcing DUI laws across Washington State. Yakima County is no exception with an estimated 12 extra patrol units out for the special patrol. Each year the Yakima County Traffic Safety Task Force likes to dedicate the memorial to a victim of DUI. In years past honorees have been Andrew Alvarado of Mabton, and Brandon Clements of Wapato. This year will be no exception. If you know someone who has been a victim of DUI please let us know so we can remember the victims of DUI through extra patrols to reduce DUI in Yakima County.
 

Resource Links:

• City of Yakima – http://www.ci.yakima.wa.us
• NHTSA Motor Vehicle Traffic Safety Facts - Yakima County
• Sunnyside Police Department - http://www.ci.sunnyside.wa.us/police/police.htm
• Yakima Herald Newspaper – http://www.yakimaherald.com
• Yakima Sheriff’s Office – http://www.pan.co.yakima.wa.us/sheriff/default.htm
• KNDO KNDU News - Emphasis Patrols

Photo Gallery:

• Poster dedicated to the Sgt. Peter Garland Memorial Emphasis Patrol
• Troy Allen Johnson is remembered by many as his mother takes his wrecked car and this memorial sign to special events in Yakima.
• Dr. Gina Beretta, WTSC; Raul Almeida, Hanford Patrol; PJ Haddox, Mabton Police Department; Distributing traffic safety information at the Slice of Yakima.
• Raul Almeida takes this young girl through a field sobriety test as she wears "drunk" goggles. Her attempts to walk the line were unsuccessful.
• Media Luncheon - December 2005: All media outlets, print, TV, and radio, joined together to brainstorm effective methods to reach Yakima County and help educate residents on traffic safety issues.
• Media Luncheon - December 2005: Lowell Porter, Director WTSC; Representative Dan Newhouse, 15th District; Representative Bruce Chandler, 15th District; City of Mabton Royalty, John Moffat, NHTSA Regional Administrator.