Washington State Patrol troopers arrested 253 people suspected of being impaired by drugs or alcohol over the New Year’s holiday weekend.  

Three people were killed in a collision on state Highway 2 in Lincoln County on Jan. 1.

“It is always the hope that the New Year starts with people driving safe and sober,” said State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste. “But I am proud that our troopers are out ensuring impaired drivers are taken off the roads.”  

The number of people arrested statewide for DUI by troopers over the holiday weekend decreased compared to the 286 people who were arrested for DUI in 2010. Of the 253 people arrested in 2011, 32 were involved in DUI collisions.  

The New Year’s holiday weekend began at 5 p.m. Dec. 31 and ended at midnight Jan. 2.  

The reduced number of arrests this past New Year’s holiday weekend can be attributed to people choosing not to drink and drive.

According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, 26 motorists were stopped and arrested for driving under the influence between Nov. 24-Jan. 2 in Clallam County, and statewide, law enforcement officers arrested 3,812 drivers for DUI.

Last year during the same time period, officers in Clallam County on routine and extra patrols also arrested 26 people for DUI.

Sequim and Port Angeles police departments, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol participated in the extra emphasis patrols, with the support of the Clallam County DUI Traffic Safety Task Force. The extra patrols were funded by a grant from the com-mission. During 2010, drinking drivers killed 188 people, representing more than 40 percent of the 458 people who died on Washington’s roadways.

For more information about the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, visit www.wtsc.wa.gov.