DUI emphasis patrol leads to four arrests

Officers from various local agencies conducted a DUI emphasis Saturday as part of the new Vancouver Police Department Collaborative Grant.

This is the third year the Washington Traffic Safety Commission awarded this grant to Vancouver police. The grant focuses on reducing fatal impaired driving crashes in Clark County and Vancouver.

On Saturday, officers from Vancouver, the Battle Ground Police Department and Washington State Patrol were out conducting the emphasis, with assistance from Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency.

According to a release from the Vancouver Police Department, the agencies combined to work 25 hours, made 29 contacts, gave out 22 warnings, issued 12 citations, had two DUI arrests and two other arrests.

The new grant was approved in June, took effect Oct. 1 and runs through Sept. 30, 2018. This year’s grant was approved for $149,420 and will be used for officer overtime to conduct additional DUI patrols, marketing and training.

The additional DUI patrols will be scheduled around weekends, holidays and events throughout the year. The next DUI emphasis will take place Oct. 28.