Nearly 300 drivers arrested for DUI in King County during 3 week strech

I read an article this afternoon from the Seattle Times discussing the success of the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign.  Slowly but surely it sounds like it is working, although not at a rate law enforcement or the general public might want.  The excerpt is below but in the same time frame last year there were more than 80 DUI arrests made.  So that is 80 less DUI arrests in King County due to this enforcement.  I for one think that is progress, but you can decide.  Here is the article

A total of 292 drivers were arrested on suspicion of impaired driving in King County during a DUI enforcement campaign that ran from Aug. 16 through Sept. 2.
Last year, during the same time period, officers on routine and extra patrols arrested 374 people for DUI in the county, according to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
Statewide, the recent “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement campaign resulted in 1,420 arrests.

Participating law enforcement agencies in King County included police departments in Auburn, Bellevue, Black Diamond, Burien, Clyde Hill, Covington, Des Moines, Duvall, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Maple Valley, Mercer Island, Newcastle, North Bend, Port of Seattle, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, SeaTac, Seattle, Snoqualmie, Tukwila and Woodinville. The Washington State Patrol also participated.

One of the things to keep in mind about this campaign and the Target Zero Task Force which consists of law enforcement officers targeting drunk driving in King County is that it's all federally funded.  Meaning if there isn't a progress shown then that funding probably will be cut off.  

Personally as a Seattle Criminal DUI lawyer I have been seeing more and more drivers arrested and charged with DUI who were well under the legal limit.  I suspect it is due to funding as well as the State Patrol saying they are getting tough on DUIs and showing an "x" amount of DUI drivers arrested and therefore saying its a success.

Remember the phrase "Driver sober or get pulled over" is not just a campaign.  It's the truth there is absolutely no such think as a "legal limit" anymore.  If you have a drop of alcohol in your system then you're fair game to get arrested.  Believe me I have seen it.  Clients with literally a blood alcohol level barely above 0.00 getting arrested and charged for DUI.   

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About the author: Matthew Leyba is a DUI lawyer in Seattle.  His practice focuses on representing those accused of DUI and other traffic related offenses.  If you have been arrested for a DUI call for a free 60 minute consultation to discuss your rights and how to protect them.