July 2, 2019
Clark County, WA – To combat the often-deadly problem of impaired driving, the Washington State Patrol is teaming up with local law enforcement agencies in Clark County this Fourth of July weekend, cracking down on impaired drivers.
This latest enforcement strategy is one of a series of “No Refusal Weekends.” They are called that because all suspected impaired drivers caught during the enforcement who refuse breath testing will be subject to blood testing for alcohol.
“No Refusal Weekends represent one more step in reducing impaired driving related fatality and serious injury collisions. Every impaired driver removed from our roadways is a potential life saved,” said Captain Jason Linn with the Washington State Patrol in Clark County.
In Washington, as well as the rest of America, anyone driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter or higher is considered legally impaired by alcohol. However, many impaired drivers refuse to submit to BAC testing in an attempt to avoid—or have reduced—the criminal sanctions they could face upon conviction.
The “No Refusal Weekend” is designed to address this issue. Police and other law enforcement officials work in coordination with prosecutors and judges to quickly obtain “blood draw warrants” for drivers who refuse BAC testing. With the approval of a judge, anyone suspected of impaired driving who unlawfully refuses to provide a breath sample is subject to blood testing at the scene, a medical facility, or nearest jail facility. The program helps ensure that prosecutors obtain the scientific evidence needed to effectively pursue cases involving impaired driving.
Additional patrols from the Washington State Patrol and other local law enforcement agencies will be looking for dangerous driving behaviors that cause serious injury and fatality collisions such as aggressive driving, speed, unrestrained occupants, and impaired driving. The extra patrols will be in place from July 4 – 7, 2019.
PDF Version of Press Release: “No Refusal Weekend” Taking Place in Clark County This Fourth of July
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A press conference to discuss this new approach in Clark County will take place at the Washington State Patrol Headquarters in Vancouver on July 3, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Media wishing to attend the event should arrive no later than 12:45 pm. Please contact Trooper Will Finn at 360-831-3037 for more information.