DUI emphasis patrols out for Cinco de Mayo

Additional law enforcement officers will patrol Pierce and King counties this Cinco de Mayo weekend in search of drunken drivers.

The 33 agencies participating will also visit bars to ensure they are not serving drinks to overly intoxicated patrons.

“We see too many crashes involving impaired drivers who did not plan a safe ride home,” said Chief John Cheesman, chairman of the Tacoma-Pierce County DUI and Traffic Safety Task Force. “If you know someone who plans to party with booze to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, ask them how they are getting home safely.”

Agencies participating in the DUI patrols include Tacoma, Fife, Fircrest, Lakewood, Puyallup, Sumner and University Place police, as well as the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department and Washington State Patrol.

In King County, agencies include Auburn, Bellevue, Federal Way, Kent, Issaquah, Kirkland, Renton, Redmond and Seattle police, as well as the state Liquor Control Board.