You think the last people who would need a reminder not to drink and drive would be those who are put in charge of enforcing DUI laws. However, that was not the case as Seattle Police Chief John Diaz issued a memo warning officers not to drink and drive.

The memo comes on the heels of at least 11 department employees being investigated for drunk driving last year, reports KOMO News.

In his memo, Diaz says that he just wanted to remind everybody how important it is to be very careful. The memo was distributed to the entire police department and the timing of the memo may not have been accidental.

As you may know, Washington state lawmakers are currently considering major changes to drunk driving laws that would stiffen penalties and present novel ways of dealing with repeat DUI offenders. And following several high-profile and tragic accidents, the tolerance level for DUIs is very low.

As a result, a drunk driving arrest or accident caused by a Seattle police officer would be extremely embarrassing and any officer arrested would likely not receive any sympathy despite his or her position as a law enforcement officer. Along with the memo, officers were also shown a video regarding drinking and driving awareness.

The lesson of the Seattle police memo to ordinary drivers should be that there is a very heightened sensitivity to drunk driving right now. Even minor DUI incidents are making headlines given the current debate over tough new DUI laws.

If you have any questions about a drunk driving matter in the Seattle or King County area, contact the criminal defense attorneys at Wolff Criminal Defense. We understand the current sentiment against DUI defenders. As a result, we will fight even harder to ensure that your rights are represented and that you get a fair trial.

Contact us at 425-284-2000 to schedule a consultation.