You may not know that the other drivers that you share a road with are a big help to the Washington State Patrol in catching suspected drunk drivers. In fact, My Northwest reports that oftentimes it is ordinary drivers that help spot suspected drunk drivers and call them in to authorities.

For example, just this week, KIRO Radio host Dori Monson spotted a suspected drunk driver swerving his pickup truck along I-5. It was the middle of the afternoon so Monson did not think the driver was impaired. However, Monson called 911 anyway after watching the driver nearly take out several cars. Monson eventually exited before the Washington State Patrol tracked down the driver, but he later followed up and it was confirmed that the driver of the pickup truck was charged with a DUI.

Monson's case of a layperson helping out the cops is not unique. In the past two months, the Washington State Patrol says that they have received 4,000 calls regarding suspected drunk drivers. While the Washington State Patrol is not able to respond to all of the calls for reasons such as timing and inability to locate the driver, the Patrol indicated that when they are able to catch the driver, they discover that the driver is drunk or impaired in about half the cases.

The Patrol indicated that to be most helpful, concerned citizens should note important information like the license plate number of the suspected drunk driver and location.

Contact a Seattle DUI Attorney

If you have been charged with a DUI in the King County area, it is important that you work with an experienced attorney. It may not be a fair fight to defend these charges, and your attorney can help you deal with prosecutors and navigate the criminal justice system. To learn how an attorney can help you, contact Wolff Criminal Defense at 425-284-2000.