Editor,

IDIPIC appreciates the running of “Putting focus on impaired driving” in Wednesday’s Whidbey News-Times.

However, a county version ran that was not an intended Oak Harbor version.

The Oak Harbor version had this info we’d like to share:

That’s why the Impaired Driving Impact Panel of Island County, the Oak Harbor Police Department, Island County Sheriff’s Office, Island County detachment of the Washington State Patrol and Oak Harbor High School’s Students Against Destructive Decisions are joining forces this year to ask all motorists to participate in the annual “Lights on for Life” day.

Oak Harbor Police arrested 57 people in 2014 for driving under the influence, down from 180 in 2000, the year IDIPIC started.

Washington State Patrol reported about 150 DUI arrests in the county with about 20-30 of those arrests by sheriff’s deputies.

Oak Harbor Police Chief Ed Green adds “Too often people don’t plan how they’re going to get home from parties. Afterward, they don’t use the best judgment. One of the best plans is to use a designated driver.”

Here’s wishing everyone a safe holiday season.

JoAnn Hellmann

IDIPIC