DUI patrols will be watching area roads

Just in time for high school graduations, extra DUI patrols will be on duty Saturday night throughout Yakima County.

The patrols will be scouring U.S. Highway 97 and surrounding roads and cities in both the Upper and Lower Yakima Valley, said Sgt. Ed McAvoy of the Washington State Patrol.

"Our goal is to help ensure a safe weekend for all of our graduates and community members," McAvoy said.

Drug recognition experts and canine units will also be working the DUI patrols.

The extra emphasis is called X52, or Extra Patrols Every Week, and is administered statewide through a partnership with 25 community traffic safety task forces.

Participating police agencies in the county include Selah, Moxee, Sunnyside, Tieton, Toppenish, Union Gap, Wapato, the Yakima Police Department and Yakima and Klickitat County sheriff's offices.