Officers provide emphasis patrols

COLUMBIA BASIN - Extra law enforcement patrols are targeting speeding and impaired drivers Saturday.

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission, the Washington State Patrol and the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs are participating in a program called "X-52."

The program was created in an effort to reduce fatalities related to speeding and impaired driving traffic collisions, according to the Central Basin Traffic Safety Task Force.

The safety commission provided $80,000 to fund additional patrols along state highways in Grant County, Adams County, Chelan County, Douglas County, Okanogan County and Spokane County.

The task force is targeting specific areas in Grant County and Adams County as determined by collision data collected in each area.

The Motor Traffic Unit division of the Grant County Sheriff's Office is aimed at reducing speeding and impaired driving deaths and is patrolling Saturday.

In 2005, 30 percent of all traffic fatalities were speed related, according to the task force. In 2006, 40 percent of all traffic fatalities were due to impaired driving.

During the first two emphasis patrols in conjunction with the campaign, officers distributed 253 citations.

The contacts include speeding infractions, warrant arrests and drug and impaired driving arrests.