Welcome to Skagit County

December 12th, 2006

NIGHT OF 1,000 STARS" TRAFFIC SAFETY EMPHASIS PATROL

This Friday night, law enforcement officers in Skagit County will conduct the 16th annual "Night of 1,000 Stars" traffic safety emphasis patrol. The thousand stars refer to the badges worn by law enforcement officers who will be participating in this statewide effort. In addition to removing drinking drivers from our roads, officers will also be on the lookout for people who speed, drive aggressively or violate other traffic laws.

This enforcement effort highlights one night of the month-long "Drive Hammered, Get Nailed" campaign, which targets drivers who have been drinking. The toll from drinking and driving is staggering. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2005, 15,172 people died on our nation's highways because of drinking and driving. 268 of those deaths occurred in our state.

People who are partying over the holidays are urged to select a designated driver or make other arrangements to avoid getting behind the wheel after they have been drinking.

During last year's "Night of 1,000 Stars," 275 drinking drivers were removed from Washington State roads and arrested for driving under the influence. Eight of those arrests occurred in Skagit County.

Officers from the Washington State Patrol, Skagit County Sheriff's Office, the police departments of Anacortes, Burlington, Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley and the Swinomish Tribe will be participating in this year's "Night of 1,000 Stars" emphasis patrol.