Spokane7
35°
Spokane County sheriff’s deputies have been asked to contact at least three motorists per hour this weekend as part of extra impaired driving patrols.
The emphasis is part of a Hoopfest patrol effort that began Friday and includes aircraft.
A Washington State Patrol Cessna plane will be above the city today and Sunday to catch impaired reckless drivers.
When the plane isn’t up, the sheriff’s helicopter will be.
“Air One will be used for vehicle pursuits and searches, should the need arise, and will be available for call-out throughout the Hoopfest event,” according to a news release.
The sheriff’s office has scheduled extra patrols for impaired drivers and boaters deputies have been asked “to make at least three motorist contacts per hour and to have a zero tolerance for impaired drivers.”
The marine unit will have two teams patroling county waterways today and Sunday.
Sgt. Dave Reagan said the sheriff’s helicopter typically is out on the weekend but this likely is the first Hoopfest in which it has worked with the WSP plane.
Hoopfest, the largest 3-on-3 street basketball tournament in the country, begins Saturday.
Reporter Meghann Cuniff writes about public safety news from the Inland Northwest and beyond.
999 W. Riverside, Spokane, WA 99201
P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210
Main switchboard: (509) 459-5000 • (800) 338-8801
Newsroom: (509) 459-5400 • (800) 789-0029
Customer service: (800) 338-8801
© Copyright 2012, The Spokesman-Review
Terms of use • Privacy policy • Copyright policy
davepartovi on June 26 at 2:05 p.m.
“make at least three motorist contacts per hour” … the updated definition of Probable Cause.
509ifyourlucky on June 27 at 3:43 p.m.
I wonder how much the taxpayers are being screwed for the Spokane police wages and equipment used for this boring event.
lewis8457 on June 27 at 10:44 p.m.
I would bet a lot, I would even bet some of them are on double or triple time.
RonWrightdon on June 28 at 6:23 a.m.
Nazi-style roadblocks opened the door for this kind of crap. What is this going to be opening the door for ? We’re slowly becoming a Police State in the name of fighting drunk driving. More DUI arrests means more money for the anti alcohol fanatics from MADD. A dangerous organization that has gotten too big for their britches. Why are they still around? To make sure we eventually have no more civil rights? And no, I don’t approve of drunk driving.