Welcome to Skagit County

December 1, 2004

14TH Annual "Night of 1,000 Stars" Traffic Safety Patrol

This Friday night, law enforcement officers in Skagit County will join their counterparts from across the state to participate in the 14th annual "Night of 1,000 Stars" traffic safety emphasis patrol. This enforcement effort is part of the continuing "Drive Hammered, Get Nailed" activity that will continue throughout the holiday season.

Drinking and driving is the primary reason why people are killed or seriously injured in automobile crashes, and officers will be keeping a close watch for those drivers who exhibit the behaviors of impairment caused by alcohol or other drugs. In addition to removing impaired drivers from our roads, officers will be targeting people who are speeding, driving aggressively or committing other traffic violations. The focus of this emphasis effort is to increase the safety of the general motoring public by removing all types of dangerous drivers from our roadways.

Last year's "Night of 1,000 Stars" resulted in 318 drivers in this state being cited for Driving Under the Influence. 13 of those arrests were made in Skagit County.

People who are drinking over the holidays are urged to select a designated driver or make other arrangements to avoid getting behind the wheel after drinking. The other problem facing drivers this time of the year is the cold weather that can quickly create hazardous conditions on our roadways. All drivers are urged to exercise extreme caution when driving in inclement weather.

Officers from the Washington State Patrol, Skagit County Sheriff's Office and local Police Departments will be participating in this Friday night's emphasis. It is titled "Night of 1,000 Stars" in order to honor the more than 1,000 law enforcement personnel across the state who will be participating in this annual enforcement effort.

Contact: Don McKeehen 360.419.3463