DUIs Dropping But Not Because Of Safe Drivers

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By Sade Malloy

Summary

Drinking and driving. We're tracking the surprising downward trend. What's the reason for the lower number of arrests? It's not safer drivers.

Story Published: Sep 14, 2009 at 5:33 PM PST

TRI-CITIES -- Drinking and driving. We're tracking the surprising downward trend. What's the reason for the lower number of arrests? It's not safer drivers.

Numbers are usually black and white and speak for themselves. But when it comes to a 30% decrease in drunk driving arrests this is a trend with a whole lot of grey matter.

"They're driving and still crashing and still hurting people. We just gotta find a way to use our resources better," says Lt. Cabezuela.

Action News found out Washington State Patrol doesn't believe the decrease in arrests is from safer drivers but fewer troopers. WSP tells us their staffing is down 18%. To make matters worse, DUI crashes are up 9% which means not only are they arresting fewer people, but more are getting into wrecks.

"Since we don't have people coming out of class that means these positions that would have been filled are having to wait," says Lt. Jay Cabezuela, Washington State Patrol.

The state's tight budget is delaying trooper training courses and there's no word when the class will come back. In the mean time, they're pulling
two motorcycle troopers from speed patrol to traffic.

"As long as we use our resources wisely we can get by," says Lt. Cabezuela.

Stretched thin but making due with what they have. It's a temporary solution and the only way to work with tight budget.