KING COUNTY, WA - On St. Patrick's Day, Saturday, March 17, law enforcement officers throughout the state of Washington, King County and numerous suburban cities will be targeting reckless and unsafe drivers, including those who drink and drive.

"Injuries and deaths resulting from drinking and driving are too common, and these take a heavy toll on families, communities and emergency services," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "We don't want anybody hurt this weekend - or any other weekend."

"Crashes are preventable," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "We advise citizens to drive defensively, wear seat belts, and most importantly not drink and drive."

The King County Traffic Safety Coalition is coordinating the emphasis patrols that will focus on State Route 99, also known as Aurora Avenue, Pacific Highway South, and International Boulevard. State Route 99 is targeted since it has five times the number of alcohol-related collisions compared to other state highways in King County.

In King County, patrols of State Route 99 will include officers from the Washington State Patrol, the King County Sheriff's Office, and the Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Port of Seattle, Seattle, Sea-Tac, Shoreline, and Tukwila police departments. They will be looking for drivers who exceed the speed limit, fail to wear safety belts and commit other traffic violations.

"If you will be drinking, make sure to plan ahead and have a reliable designated driver or take a taxi. If you drink and drive, we will arrest you, and we will prosecute to the fullest extent possible," said King County Sheriff David Reichert.

Additionally, agents from the Washington State Liquor Control Board will perform underage and over-service checks in licensed establishments. "Drinking establishments need to make sure they don't over serve clients and contribute to this problem," said Reichert.

In King County during the five-year period of 1995-1999, there were 197 drinking driver related fatal crashes, which resulted in 222 deaths. In addition, many more drinking driver crashes resulted in serious injuries.

Increased holiday patrols aim to reduce the number of traffic-related deaths and injuries by discouraging drinking and driving. Drinking drivers not only place themselves in harm's way, but also endanger other innocent people on the road.

The State Route 99 emphasis is coordinated by the King County Traffic Safety Coalition and Public Health - Seattle & King County, and is supported by the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission.

Formed in 1998, the King County Traffic Safety Coalition is chaired by Public Health - Seattle & King County and includes the law enforcement agencies listed above, fire safety educators, epidemiologists, liquor industry representatives, the Washington State Liquor Control Board, victims groups, traffic engineers, and numerous others.

Since King County Traffic Safety Coalition began coordinating these traffic safety emphasis patrols in 1999, over 1,200 people have been stopped for unsafe driving actions and over 100 people have been cited with driving under the influence (DUI) along Highway 99 in King County.