Law enforcement crack down on pedestrian safety, DUIIs

Local law enforcement embarked on two traffic safety initiatives in September, leading to a combined 316 traffic stops.

On Sept. 27, Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies and officers from partner agencies doubled down on DUII enforcement in honor of Washington State Patrol Trooper Christopher Gadd.

Gadd was killed March 2 when an impaired driver hit him on Interstate 5 north of Marysville, Washington. He had just texted his colleagues that he would meet up with them for a break after, “one more stop,” according to the sheriff’s office.

During the memorial event, deputies made 169 traffic stops, nine of which involved persons driving under the influence.

“With any of these high-visibility missions we do, we try to deter people from dangerous driving behavior and reduce injuries and deaths due to crashes,” a spokesperson for the department said.

Additionally, during Labor Day weekend, deputies made 761 traffic stops and arrested 56 drivers for driving while intoxicated.

The second enforcement initiative was conducted Sept. 19 by members of WCSO’s Traffic Safety Unit and focused on pedestrian safety in crosswalks at two intersections: the intersection of Southwest 185th Avenue and Southwest Madeline Street in Aloha as well as the intersection of Southwest Hall Boulevard and Southwest Third Street in Beaverton.

From 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., officers made 147 traffic stops — the majority of which were for drivers who failed to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians using crosswalks. Other common infractions were for drivers who weren’t wearing seatbelts and drivers who were using their cell phones.

“A majority of drivers were warned about their dangerous driving behaviors, and some were issued citations for more egregious violations,” the sheriff’s office stated in a post on social media. “Education is a key component to traffic and pedestrian safety.”