Washington’s traffic fatalities are at their highest level in 33 years, according to the Bellevue Police Department (BPD). Officer Seth Tyler with the BPD said the numbers are disturbing and should concern everyone.
He said the city is participating for the third year in a row in 100 Safe Days of Summer, which is coordinated with the King County Traffic Safety Coalition’s Target Zero.
“The Traffic Safety Coalition, also known as the King County Target Zero Task Force, works with traffic safety and community partners to create equitable traffic safety programs and plans to reduce collisions, injuries and fatalities in King County,” according to the website King County. .
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is undergoing Vision Zero, a program to end traffic fatalities by 2030.
“Last year I worked in Bellevue. I have written over 500 tickets for distracted driving. That’s a huge number. And that is way too high. People still talk on their cell phones, but they text. They use apps. They are video chatting. And the one thing they don’t do is pay attention to the road. And that contributes to our traffic accidents and traffic fatalities,” Tyler said.
BPD said it focuses on violations that cause accidents, such as speeding and talking on the phone.
“I work on a motorcycle. So it’s very easy for me to see in those cars if someone is holding their phone. Normally people just stare at their crotch while driving. So that’s a good indication that there might be something going on with their phone,” Tyler said.
And so I can just look down through the window and see if they try to text right away. They’re on their phones. So it is not difficult for us to see these violations. It’s a moving offense. It therefore has consequences for your insurance. So another reason to stay off your phone and focus on the road,” he continued.
Tyler talked about being on the scene of a fatal accident in Bellevue and how devastating it was.
“I’ve had to pass those notifications on to the families, you know, telling them that their loved one isn’t going to be coming home that night. And it’s kind of a call that I never want to go to again,” he said.
If you get drunk in Bellevue, the officer will arrest you, Tyler said.
‘There will be a court hearing. It is a misdemeanor in Washington with a penalty of up to 30 days in jail for your first offense,” he said.
Tyler told us the fines could be up to $10,000.
“And you will also have an interlock device placed on your car before you can drive it. So that is an extra expense that you have to pay for. And there is also a monthly fee for that locking device,” he said.
But legal fees can reach $10,000. And so I like to say to anyone who says, “You know what, I just had a couple of beers.” I’m like, ‘Well, is it worth $10,000?’ Because that’s what it could cost you, and our prosecutors stand behind these efforts to ensure that if you get a DUI, you will appear in court,” he continued.
BPD’s Drew Anderson said the department has already had 94 DUI incidents in the city from January to June. He added that the city has seen a 15% increase in DUI incidents in the past year.
“So enforcement is needed, not just because of fatalities and reckless driving … it’s at a 33-year high across the state and we want to do our part to really curb that,” he said.
The city organizes a mobile driving unit for the disabled from Friday to Saturday evening.
“The preventative measure is that we ask residents if they have been drinking and even whether or not they can drive, join a rideshare program or call a family member or friend for help. It’s not worth getting behind the wheel,” Anderson said.
If a Bellevue officer pulls you over for driving under the influence, you will be arrested for driving under the influence, Anderson said. The fine is $10,000 in legal fees and will appear on your criminal record.
