To keep drivers and passengers safer this year, the North Bend and Snoqualmie Police Department, will be participating in an annual X-52 DUI patrol emphasis.

Local officers from 14 policies agencies, including Snoqualmie Police Department, Issaquah Police Department and Washington State Patrol will accompany North Bend officers in efforts to save lives and prevent serious injuries by removing impaired drivers from Washington’s roadways.

These campaigns are part of the Washington Strategic Highway Safety Plan: Target Zero, with a goal of zero fatal and serious injury collisions by the year 2030.

Officers will especially focus on dates of historically higher DUI occurrences, which include winter holidays, St. Patrick’s Day, the beginning of summer, the Fourth of July and Labor Day weekend.

The program is funded by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and will include five DUI campaigns in 2009 and 2010.