The St. Paddy's Day weekend wasn't just about green beer and parades in Washington County. While revelers celebrated, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was out in force cracking down on dangerous driving. In a major traffic safety blitz aiming to sober up potentially tipsy drivers, the local law enforcement ran a high-visibility enforcement mission to keep the streets safe from sundown to sunup.
Partnering with multiple agencies, the sheriff's deputies kept a hawk-eye on the usual suspects that lead to road mayhem: speed demons, unbuckled drivers and passengers, lane weavers, drunks behind the wheel, and those glued to their cellphones while driving. According to the Sheriff's Office, Sgt. Josh Wilson from the Traffic Safety Unit laid it out clear: "Missions like this save lives, make our roads safer, and are extremely important for reducing traffic crashes."
In total, an eye-popping 1600 traffic stops unfolded over the course of the operation, yielding a mix of warning, citations, and some trips to the clanger for the DUII cases. Specifically, Washington County deputies handed out 313 warnings, 156 citations, and cuffed 20 individuals on suspicion of DUII. Their efforts seemed to pay off – not a single traffic fatality to darken the festive mood was reported in the county during the enforcement period.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office showers praise on the collaborative effort in the face of dangers lurking behind the wheel. The operation's success underscores their commitment to community safety and zero tolerance for reckless driving. If you've got a lead on some dodgy driving that's threatening to run amok, don't sit on it – get on the horn with the Sheriff’s Office through non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111 or dial 911 if it's a bona fide emergency.
