This is a press release from the city of Kirkland.

As part of the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission’s (WTSC) “Target Zero” Program, the Kirkland Police Department, along with other law enforcement agencies, are warning drivers who operate a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or marijuana about the extra DUI patrols happening state wide beginning now through January 1, 2015.

“Target Zero” seeks to end traffic deaths and serious injuries in Washington by 2030.

In King County, the Auburn, Bellevue, Black Diamond, Burien, Clyde Hill, Covington, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Maple Valley, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Normandy Park, Port of Seattle, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, SeaTac, Seattle, Snoqualmie, and Woodinville Police Departments, the Washington State Liquor Control Board and the Washington State Patrol will be teaming up and participating in the extra patrols, with the support of the King County Target Zero Task Force.

A recent survey of drivers shows seven out of ten have used marijuana and almost half of those have recently driven within a couple of hours after marijuana use.

According to preliminary results of a June 2014 survey measuring driver impairment on Washington’s roads, nearly 90 percent of those same drivers said they did not think marijuana degraded their driving ability, despite research showing that driving while high doubles your chance of killing yourself or others in a crash.

In fact, 25 percent of those respondents felt that driving while high made them a better driver.  The survey was prepared by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) on behalf of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. Information on the PIRE survey can be found at www.wtsc.wa.gov/pire. Information on the Washington Traffic Safety Commission can be found on the agency website at www.wtsc.wa.gov.

“It’s extremely troubling to me that so many marijuana users think that driving high is not a problem. It’s a serious problem,” said Darrin Grondel, Washington Traffic Safety Commission Director. From 2009 through 2013, more than 1,000 people died in impaired driving collisions in Washington. Impaired driving is involved in nearly half of all traffic deaths and more than 20 percent of serious injury collisions.

In addition to those tragic consequences, a DUI arrest comes with heavy penalties. A DUI arrest carries up to a year in jail, a $5,000 fine, and a loss of a driver’s license. DUI offenders can also be ordered to wear an electronic ankle bracelet. Many must install an ignition interlock device, which prevents a car from starting if the driver has been drinking. Defense attorney fees can cost as much as $10,000, and insurance rates can double.

For more information, visit http://wtsc.wa.gov/target-zero/.