Drunk driving arrests in Sammamish more than tripled in 2009 compared to the previous year, the city’s Chief of Police Nate Elledge told the Sammamish Kiwanis Club at their breakfast meeting last week.
More than 50 people were picked up driving under the influence, up from just 16 in 2008.
But according to Elledge, this wasn’t necessarily due to more people deciding to get behind the wheel when they shouldn’t, but better detection and enforcement by the local force.
In particular, the addition of DUI enforcement specialist Officer Steve Johnson has greatly increased the likelihood that if you drink and drive in Sammamish, you will get caught.
“Steve has been a great addition up here,” Elledge told The Reporter this week. “He is a state certified drug recognition expert, and so has had very specific training on how to identify if someone is under the influence. As a result, our enforcement of this type of offense has gone up significantly.”
On Tuesday night, Johnson was named Office of the Year for King County Police Precinct 2, which covers a large area north of I-90 and east of I-405 to Snoqualmie Pass. He will now be considered for the honor of King County Officer of the Year.
Elledge, who before coming to Sammamish patrolled in White Center and Burien, said that this number of DUIs was not an exceptional amount for a city of its size.
“But any DUI is a significant problem,” he said. “Even if you only have one, there is always the risk of someone causing great damage or harm.”
In 2008, almost half of all traffic-related fatalities (521) involved drivers under the influence of alcohol (225).
More than 17,000 people were convicted of DUI in Washington last year.
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