Washington
Washington State Patrol Convenes Traffic Safety Equity Summit in Vancouver – Washington State Patrol
March 14, 2025
Vancouver, WA – On Thursday, March 13th, over 70 individuals gathered at the Washington State Patrol (WSP) District Headquarters in Vancouver to discuss traffic safety issues and how they impact different demographic groups in Washington. WSP Chief John R. Batiste welcomed attendees and shared that fatal collisions in the state are far too high and cut across all racial, regional, gender, and age groups. He told those assembled, “We need your help to understand this growing problem and help us change dangerous driving behaviors that impact us all.”
Over 40 local citizens attended, including several students from local high schools as well as representatives from city and county government, police agencies, tribes, and state agencies. Chief Batiste was especially happy to see the students in attendance and shared a direct message, “We are glad you are here, and we want to be always glad you are here. Far too many young people lose their lives on our highways so the issues we are discussing today – distracted driving, impaired driving, driving too fast, and without a seatbelt – are really all about you, your safety and your futures.”
Issues discussed included road-user rights and responsibilities, safe vehicles, safe speeds, safe roadway design, and post-crash response services. A few troubling statistics were shared. Fatalities tied to distracted driving were up 36.4% in 2023 and all vehicular fatalities were up by 9% that same year with 810 fatalities on our state’s roadways. An early review of 2024 data shows only slight improvement as the numbers are still higher than in the past, affecting every racial and age demographic, but particularly drivers between the ages of 18 and 25.
Local troopers, along with representatives from WSDOT, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, Target Zero, and local city government worked in small groups with members of the public to review the data and discuss ways to change poor driver behavior and improve safety conditions so that the rising numbers can be suppressed. This was a pilot project coordinated by WSP’s Office of Cultural Engagement and will be replicated in each of the agency’s eight districts across Washington.
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Release sent by Chris Loftis, Director of Communications
WASHINGTON TWP., N.J. — Officers in Washington Township, said they finished a DoorDash food delivery after arresting the driver who had warrants out for his arrest.
Body camera video shows officers stepping in to deliver the food themselves, a move the department in southern New Jersey later shared on its Facebook page.
“I thought something happened. Oh my God, I got so scared,” said the customer when she answered the door.
The DoorDash customer, seen on police body cam video, was instantly relieved and appreciative upon learning why officers were at her door.
“Arrested your driver, but, yeah, we delivered your food,” one of the officers said.
It turns out a Washington Township police officer stopped the DoorDash driver during routine patrols in front of a high school over the weekend.
“He made a stop on it for a violation,” said Washington Township Police Chief Patrick Gurcsik.
But then, Chief Gurcsik said the officer learned the driver had warrants out for his arrest in another county.
“He made the officers aware that he had two DoorDash meals in the car that he was in the middle of delivering,” Gurcsik said.
The officers went from cuffing the driver to ringing a doorbell to finish his delivery.
“I never heard of anything like that in the South Jersey area. It’s sort of a first for us here in Washington Township, definitely,” Gurcsik said.
Police finish DoorDash delivery after arresting driver in New Jersey
It’s happened in other places, too, including in New Mexico last summer, when a motorcycle cop delivered someone’s Chick-fil-A order after arresting the driver.
“Hello, sir, got your DoorDash. Oh, thank you,” the officer said. “He’s a good kid, give him five stars. He just didn’t take care of a simple insurance ticket.”
And officers over in Arizona made a similar arrest during a traffic stop and were seen on body camera finishing the delivery.
“Your GrubHub, still delivered your pizza,” the officer said.
“We definitely serve the community in more ways than one,” Gurcsik said.
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SEATTLE — A bill aimed at tightening Washington’s laws on child sex abuse material is headed to Gov. Bob Ferguson’s desk after clearing the Legislature unanimously.
King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion said 2ESSB 5105 passed the House unanimously Tuesday night after the Senate unanimously approved it on Jan. 28, 2026.
SEE ALSO | Washington exempts clergy from reporting abuse learned in confession after settlement
Manion called the measure one of her public safety legislative priorities.
“People who peddle in the misery of sexually abused children must be held accountable,” Manion said. “I am grateful for the work of Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Laura Harmon – both in prosecuting these cases and advocating for these legal fixes – and Senators Tina Orwall and Manka Dhingra for championing this legislation.”
Manion’s office said the current state law has gaps that can prevent prosecutors from holding offenders accountable in some cases.
Under current law, prosecutors cannot charge defendants for creating images of child sex abuse unless the child victim was conscious or knew they were being recorded.
The office also said that possessing sexually explicit fabricated (AI) images of non-identifiable minors is not considered child sex abuse material under Washington law.
The bill would update RCW 9.68A.040 to remove the requirement that a child be aware of an abusive recording. It would also update the definition of child sex abuse material to include fabricated (AI) images of non-identifiable minors.
The legislation would also increase the statute of limitations to 10 years for depiction crimes. Manion’s office said the current statute of limitations is three years, and argued that because the images can remain online indefinitely, victims can be re-traumatized for decades.
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