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‘HIVE’ patrol results in over 180 traffic stops in four hours

February 28, 2020

BREMERTON – The Washington State Patrol (WSP), Bremerton Police Department (BPD), Port
Orchard Police Department (POPD) and Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) teamed up on Feb. 28,
2020, to reduce injury, serious injury and fatality collisions during a third “High Visibility Enforcement” (HIVE) patrol.

The day long HIVE patrol focused on state Route 303 and state Route 304 with focused efforts during peak collision times. One such peak collision time between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. resulted in 183 traffic stops, including:

• 55 drivers contacted for speed related violations, including one driver measured traveling 72 miles per hour (mph) in a posted 30 mph zone.
• One driver arrested under the suspicion of impaired driving • Three individuals arrested for felony warrants.
• Fifty percent of the drivers contacted received verbal or written warnings.

HIVE patrol locations and times are dictated by data collected by the WSP. Collision data collected over the past six years identifies the five-mile radius near Gorst as a high volume area, accounting for nearly 35 percent of collisions investigated by WSP troopers in Kitsap County. Twenty-five percent of collisions reported in that area result in injuries, serious injuries or fatalities.

HIVE patrols utilize an all crimes approach, with a focus on collision causing violations including speed, following distance, impaired driving, distracted driving and aggressive driving behaviors.

The goal is to conduct 24 HIVE patrols throughout Kitsap County by the end of 2020. Future HIVE patrols will be announced as scheduled.

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