Extra law enforcement patrols will be on the roadways watching for impaired drivers in Clallam and Jefferson counties between Friday and Sept. 7.
Participating in this summer’s Drive Hammered, Get Nailed enforcement campaign are the Port Angeles, Sequim and Port Townsend police departments, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the State Patrol, with the support of the Clallam County DUI/Traffic Safety Task Force and the Jefferson County Traffic Safety Task Force.
Numerous myths
“There are numerous myths surrounding impaired driving, chief of which is that one must have consumed alcohol in order to be arrested for DUI,” said Kristine Szarkowitz, media relations consultant for the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, in a prepared statement.
“Drivers can become impaired by the use of illegal, prescription and even over-the-counter drugs or some combination of these, with or without the presence of alcohol,” she said.
Other myths about impaired driving are:
• It’s possible to sober up quickly by drinking coffee, taking a cold shower or consuming an energy drink.
Said Szarkowitz: “Only time will sober you up. It typically takes about one hour for each drink that has been consumed.”
• It’s OK to drive impaired if you are only going a short distance.
“It is never safe to drive under the influence,” Szarkowitz said.
• Doctors wouldn’t prescribe medicine if it weren’t safe to drive while taking it.
“Prescription medications can impair you,” Szarkowitz said. “If the bottle indicates that it is not safe to operate heavy machinery, you should not drive after taking that medication.”
• No one can be arrested for DUI with a blood alcohol content of less than .08, the legal limit.
“You can be arrested for DUI if your ability to drive is affected by any substance, regardless of your blood alcohol content,” Szarkowitz said.
Recognizing and identifying the source of impairment can be complicated, she said.
Drug Recognition Experts are trained extensively about the differing effects of drugs and/or alcohol on the body.
Deputy Mike Backes of the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, who has taken the training, knows by looking at a driver’s eyes and face whether he needs to further investigate their state of sobriety.
“He once stopped an erratically driven vehicle with several passengers, all of whom had been drinking alcohol,” Szarkowitz said. “They were pleased that they had a designated driver who had not been drinking.
“However, the smile on his face and other indicators showed Backes there were signs of marijuana use. The passengers were sent walking home while the driver was arrested for DUI.”
Impaired driving is the leading cause of traffic deaths in Washington state, she said.
Last year, impaired drivers contributed to the deaths of nearly half of the 522 people who died on state roads.
For more information about the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, visit www.wtsc.wa.gov.
