Mirror staff reports:
Extra DUI patrols will be on the roads in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties come Super Bowl Sunday, according to local law enforcement agencies. Historically, Super Bowl Sunday is a dangerous time, due to the large numbers of people who drink and drive after the big game.
“Make the right call and choose a safe ride home this weekend,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health (Seattle and King County). “Before your party begins, designate a sober driver, ride the bus or take a cab.”
According to King County, half of all traffic deaths in Washington state on Super Bowl Sunday involve impaired drivers. Since 2009, 191 people have been arrested for DUI on Super Bowl Sunday in the tri-county area.
“We want to get the word out so people can make safe choices this Sunday,” said John Cheesman, Chief of the Fircrest Police Department and Chairman of the Pierce County DUI and Traffic Safety Task Force. “Watching the Super Bowl and all the commercials is a lot of fun, but when the game is over, fans who have been drinking need to make sure they don’t get behind the wheel.”
It will be a veritable minefield of law enforcement on Sunday, with the county indicating participating agencies will be from Arlington, Auburn, Bellevue, Brier, Bothell, Edmonds, Everett, Federal Way, Granite Falls, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Lake Stevens, Lakewood, Lynnwood, Marysville, Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace, Monroe, Mukilteo, Newcastle, Puyallup, Redmond, Renton, Seattle, Snoqualmie, Tacoma and University Place. The Tulalip Tribal Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington State Liquor Control board and Washington State Patrol are also slated to participate in making sure those who make the wrong choice get punished.
