Welcome to Skagit County

October 27, 2004

"SURROUND THE SOUND" HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES EMPHASIS PATROL

This weekend, officers in Skagit County will be joining their counterparts from the other counties surrounding Puget Sound to conduct the sixth annual "Surround the Sound" law enforcement emphasis patrol.

People who are out celebrating Halloween can expect officers to pay particular attention to drinking drivers. They will also be looking for people who drive aggressively, exceed the speed limit, fail to wear seat belts or commit other traffic violations.

Officers conducting the emphasis are also urging drivers to be particularly careful on Sunday evening when many small children are out trick-or-treating.

Officers in the 10 counties participating in last year's "Surround the Sound" emphasis pulled over 1,099 drivers. 124 of them were charged with Driving Under the Influence. In Skagit County, officers stopped 89 drivers and made one DUI arrest. They also issued 18 Notices of Infraction, made eight criminal arrests, one drug arrest and eight arrests for outstanding warrants.

"Surround the Sound" emphasis patrols will be conducted in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Kitsap, Jefferson and Clallam Counties. This activity is coordinated by community DUI/Traffic Safety Task Forces and is supported by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.