New Program Launched to Catch Drunk Drivers

Local authorities are praising a program that helps catch drunk and impaired drivers. Police and sheriff's deputies met at the SunDome in Yakima Monday to introduce the Target Zero Team. The program will allow local officers to team up with state troopers to reduce the number of fatal collisions caused by drunk drivers. The program is funded by a federal grant. The teams will patrol Yakima using data to direct them to areas where they have seen a lot of drunk driving incidents in the past. Police say this is an effort to make Yakima a safer community.

"I think it's a good commitment from the local agencies along with the state to help reduce the injuries and fatalities that are occurring in our community and take a great step forward to make it a safer community for all of us," said Sgt. Shawn Boyle with the Yakima Police Department.

Local officers will get money for overtime to work with state troopers. This multi-agency program starts today.

Counties that recently launched this program have seen a 38 percent decrease in impaired driving fatalities during a one-year test period.

The Target Zero Program also launched in Spokane Monday as officers around the state are trying to make Washington a safer place to drive.