'Drive hammered, get nailed' theme for holiday patrols

State troopers lookout for drunk drivers through Jan. 2

COLUMBIA BASIN — Slick roads and holiday parties can be a deadly combination for motorists this winter, and patrols throughout the Columbia Basin will be out in force through the new year, on the lookout for the drunken drivers who could be a hazard to themselves and others.

A blood alcohol level of .08 means a driver is illegal behind the wheel and officers from both local and state agencies will be looking for indications drivers might have hit their limit, during both regular and special patrolling emphases on Basin roads.

The Washington State Patrol is one of a handful of agencies who has received funding for a program called "Drive Hammered - Get Nailed," a campaign through which WSP troopers are paid overtime to patrol during peak times for problem driving.

"It's used during vacation, holiday seasons that normally create traffic problems," said WSP Trooper Rich Magnussen.

This "Drive Hammered — Get Nailed" campaign is a joint effort between the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, law enforcement and the Grant County DUI and Traffic Safety Task Force. The specific emphasis has already begun and is in force through Jan. 2 to discourage drinking and driving.

Grant funds allow WSP officers to use the overtime for problem travel times year round. This time of year, Magnussen said, that means extra troopers making stops on Friday and Saturday nights, and those peak times from 8 p.m. until bar closing times.

While the focus is on drunken driving, Magnussen said troopers will be on the lookout for aggressive driving and other traffic violations as well.

According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, drunken driving is the most frequently committed violent crime in America and is the number one cause of fatal collisions in the state of Washington. In a release put out announcing the holiday emphasis patrols, the commission has encouraged drivers to plan ahead and do whatever it takes to make sure a sober person is behind the wheel of their vehicle.

The Moses Lake Police Department is not taking part in the special "Drive Hammered — Get Nailed" emphasis, but MLPD Captain Jim Jenkins said the department will be on the lookout for drunken drivers during their regular patrols during and after the holiday season.

Indicators like excessively high or low speeds, driving without lit headlights or leaving turn signals flashing are the red flags officers look for when out on patrol, Jenkins said. By themselves they may mean nothing, but Jenkins said that when put together they could be a symptom of a drunken driver.