For the past 21 years, law enforcement agencies throughout Washington have conducted “Night of 1,000 Stars” impaired-driving emphasis patrols during the holidays, with each star symbolizing the badge worn by an on-duty law-enforcement officer.

This year, preliminary results show 53 impaired drivers were arrested in Snohomish County between Dec. 16 and 17. During an eight-hour shift each night, county and city law-enforcement officers in Snohomish County removed 20 impaired drivers as part of a special traffic safety grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. Washington State Patrol Troopers arrested an additional 33 drivers during the same period.

According to statistics, many of the impaired drivers arrested were repeat offenders, and some were two to three times the legal BAC limit of .08. Among those arrested were a father with his wife and child in the car; a 17-year-old driver without a valid driver’s license who was ferrying four other young adults in the vehicle with him; and another suspect who caused a collision.

Special emphasis patrols will continue throughout the New Year. Drivers should be safe and make other driving arrangements if necessary.

For more information, contact Tracy McMillan, the county’s DUI & Target Zero Task Force manager, at 425-388-7229 or tracy.mcmillan@snoco.org.