Between the days of Aug. 14 and Sept. 7, Whitman County law enforcement offices will be stepping up their DUI patrols with the aim to stamp out drunk drivers as part of the “Drive Hammered, Get Nailed” campaign.

Funded by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, “Drive Hammered, Get Nailed” pays overtime for interested police officers from the WSU Police Department, the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol to increase patrols during the three-week period.

WTSC Program Manager Shelly Baldwin said July and August have historically been the deadliest months for automobile accidents.

“We have more driving fatalities due to increased road traffic because people are taking vacations, and there being more hours in the day,” she said. “Labor Day is traditionally a very deadly time on the roads, which is why we’re running the program through that date.” According to a press release from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, nationally, 13,000 deaths resulted from impaired drivers during 2007. Added up, those numbers average one person killed every 40 minutes in the U.S.

The price for a DUI in the state of Washington is anywhere between $5,000 to $10,000, depending on the circumstances. The legal blood alcohol level in Washington is .08, and the penalty for driving under the influence is steeper than just the cost, Baldwin said.

“You lose your license and can end up in treatment. It’s an expensive, time-consuming ordeal that just isn’t worth it,” she said. “That friend who can give you a ride home or that $20 taxi cab is much, much cheaper.” Washington is home to an applied consent law, which states that when someone obtains a Washington state driver’s license, they agree to take a breathalyzer test given by a police officer who has cause to suspect that they have been driving under the influence. Refusal to comply will result in a year-long license suspension from the Department of Licensing.

“This has nothing to do with whether you’re convicted or not,” said Pullman Police Cmdr. Chris Tennant. “If it is a valid arrest, done procedurally, and you refuse the breathalyzer, your license will be suspended.” Another law that can affect college-age students concerns minors under the age of 21 who have consumed alcohol and get behind the wheel.

“If you’re under 21, and the breathalyzer reads more than .02, which is essentially a beer and a half, the penalty is the same as for a DUI. Insurance companies will definitely see it as the same thing,” Tennant said.

The “Drive Hammered, Get Nailed” campaign will conclude the day after Labor Day, but participating departments will still have regular patrols on the road.

“The main goal of “Drive Hammered, Get Nailed” is not to increase arrests, but to change behavior and lower the number of driving fatalities during the Labor Day weekend,” Baldwin said.