Police Department

DUI Enforcement Team

Sgt. Terry Preuninger, PIO

Monday, October 7, 2019 at 2:23 p.m.

In 2017, the Spokane Police Department received a grant from Traffic Safety Commission to start a DUI Enforcement Team. This team is comprised of two full time Officers working opposite of each other with the intent to having 7 days a week coverage. Both Officers are also Drug Recognition Experts to help identify impairment that might not be alcohol related.

Since getting started, the team has arrested around 750 DUI’s in the two years since its implementation. These DUI arrest stemmed from Crashes, Traffic Stops, Citizens calling in reckless drivers and Citizens calling in people that are passed out behind the wheel.

The majority of these numbers are alcohol related DUI’s. We have also seen an increased number of Cannabis related DUI’s as well as DUI’s with a combination of alcohol and drugs.  Around half of the DUI arrests stem from collisions.

As the Holiday season is coming around the corner quickly, the Spokane Police Department wants to encourage people to drink responsibly.  We also want to remind people that driving after smoking marijuana could also result in a DUI.  If you’re going to smoke marijuana or drink alcohol, please don’t drive.

If you see a loved one, friend, co-worker or anyone that appears to be impaired, say something and encourage them to find a safe way home.  There are several different alternatives to driving out there to get home safely. 

If you are driving and see someone you think might be impaired, call Crime Check at 509-456-2233 and report it. Give a good description of the vehicle, the license plate if you can and what the vehicle is doing so that we can get them safely off the road.

By working together we can keep our roadways safe.

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