SEATTLE — As Seattle enters a season of holiday parties and late-night celebrations, the city’s police department is stepping up its presence on the streets — bringing back a dedicated DUI squad for the first time in years.

The Seattle Police Department says the unit will patrol city streets from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. every night through December, targeting busy nightlife areas and major corridors in an effort to stop impaired drivers before tragedy strikes.

“It’s such a gift for the holidays for everyone,” said Shelly Baldwin, director of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. “This is how we keep families together and people safe.”

Seattle maintained a full-time DUI unit for roughly five decades before disbanding it in 2020, a move intended to redirect staff toward handling 911 calls. S

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