On Friday night, November 19, eight officers and two deputies participated in the WA Traffic Safety Commission’s Overtime Target Zero DUI Emphasis Patrol. During their 8 hour shift, they were able to contact 202 drivers and removed 6 for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. This particular emphasis was held on targeted roadways in the Lake Stevens, Marysville, and Arlington area according to Tracy McMillan, Snohomish County DUI & Target Zero Task Force Manager.

A Mountlake Terrace police officer participated in the Target Zero Emphasis Patrol in the east portion of Snohomish County. During the emphasis shift, the officer’s first arrest was a 28 year-old Carnation resident who admitted he had smoked marijuana prior to driving. A small container of suspected marijuana and a glass pipe were found in the car.

Shortly after clearing the above DUI arrest, the officer made a routine stop on another vehicle that resulted in two arrests for drug possession, the seizure of the vehicle and a large quantity of cash. While the officer was contacting the driver, a second officer noticed a plastic baggie containing a white substance stuck to the wet passenger door. It appeared as though the passenger, a 29 year-old Phoenix resident, was trying to dispose of the baggie during the course of the traffic stop and the baggie stuck to the outside of the wet door. The passenger was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. The white material in the baggie later tested positive for amphetamine.

The driver, a 27 year-old Everett resident, was also arrested when he tried to conceal some cocaine that he had folded into a one dollar bill. Police seized the drugs, thousands of dollars in cash located on the passenger’s person, and the vehicle. Both subjects were booked at the Snohomish County Jail.

The officer established probable cause to apply for a search warrant on the vehicle. The search warrant was granted and a search of the vehicle located thousands of dollars hidden in the car.

These arrests and investigation show the importance of the WA Traffic Safety Commission’s Overtime Target Zero DUI Emphasis Patrol as officers from this department and from agencies throughout the county concentrate their efforts on impaired drivers.