DUI tracking takes to the air

Special airplanes help with law enforcement

BY STEVEN POWELL | THE OLYMPIAN • Published August 30, 2008

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The Washington State Patrol is going high-tech to catch law-breaking drivers at night.

A State Patrol airplane observed a white Cadillac Escalade driving erratically north on Interstate 5 from Olympia early Friday morning.

Using a stabilized aerial video camera with thermal imaging, the troopers videotaped the sport utility vehicle as the driver passed other cars, going faster than 110 miles per hour.

A ground trooper stopped the driver just north of the Nisqually River Bridge in Pierce County, near the Thurston County line.

The driver, a 24-year-old man from Tacoma, was taken into custody on suspicion of DUI and a felony drug warrant about 12:38 Friday and booked into Pierce County Jail.

Starting this month, State Patrol began routinely using specially equipped airplanes to assist with DUI enforcement. The new program is called DART, or DUI Aerial Response Team.

DART uses “forward-looking infrared-equipped” airplanes to find and coordinate apprehension of impaired and reckless drivers, according to the State Patrol. The program involves residents armed with cellular phones, State Patrol air crews, troopers and communication officers, the State Patrol says.

“We believe that DART will improve the apprehension rate of drunk drivers reported by concerned citizens via cell phones,” Capt. Mark Couey with the Special Operations Division said.

Steve Powell is The Olympian’s city editor. He can be reached at 360-754-5423 or spowell@theolympian.com.