Snohomish County law enforcement will continue to work in multi-jurisdictional, highly visible patrols during to reduce the number of impaired drivers on the roads.

A recent traffic safety emphasis patrol removed 16 impaired drivers from southeast Snohomish County roads during an eight-hour period. Law enforcement will continue to work overtime shifts through September, 2010 on a traffic safety grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and will be looking for impaired drivers as well as drivers who speed, drive aggressively or violate other traffic laws.

Holiday patrols also will be increased to be sure roads a safe during the New Years holiday.

"The best precaution you can take is to arrange for a designated driver if you think youll be drinking," Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon said. "Theres no excuse for driving while impaired."

As many as 295 people in Washington state were arrested for driving under the influence and given a breath test between the hours of 8 p.m.-4 a.m. Dec. 11-12 and 8 p.m.-4 a.m. Dec. 12-13.

"That averages out to one person ever three minutes arrested for driving while impaired," said Tracy McMillan, Snohomish County DUI and Target Zero Task Force Manager. "Thats simply unacceptable."

Forty-six people in Snohomish County were arrested for driving under the influence and given a breath test during that same period. These results do not include suspected impaired drivers given blood tests.

For more information, contact Tracy McMillan at Tracy.McMillan@co.snohomish.wa.us or (425) 238-1277.