ARLINGTON — “I hope we don’t have a lot of customers for this program,” Chris Raezer said after he and his fellow Arlington City Council members approved the DUI Victim Memorial Sign Program May 4.
Joyce Carbajal-Phillips had been working for a year with Jay Downing, who’s in charge of the city’s maintenance and operations, to put forward this program. It was created to give families a way to remember loved ones lost at the fault of drunken drivers within city limits, and to serve as a reminder to the public not to drink and drive.
City staff received the first request to install such a sign at the intersection of 67th Avenue NE at 191st Place NE in memory of Daniel W. Carbajal, who was killed by a drunken driver there in 1982. From there, staff contacted the state Department of Transportation regarding the WSDOT version of the program, then modified the requirements and costs to be more in line with city standards.
The standard sign for Arlington will be 30 inches by 42 inches, and will feature the words “Please Don’t Drink and Drive,” with a 30-inch by 12-inch plaque below displaying the victim’s name. The signs will be placed near the scene of the collision, with one sign for each direction of travel. WSDOT and Snohomish County have similar programs.
Signs may be installed if the driver causing the collision was convicted of vehicular homicide because of driving under the influence, or was fatally injured and shown to be DUI based on toxicology reports.
The sponsors pay for the signs for $250 each, which includes all materials and installation by city crews. The city will provide regular maintenance and minor repairs for the signs.
Carbajal-Phillips reminded area residents that her family will be honoring another of its fallen relatives Saturday, May 16, when the annual blood drive in memory of Elliot Carbajal will kick off.
Elliot Carbajal was a long-time blood donor who died, at age 40, five days after a violent assault, when he was taken off life support on his father’s birthday, Dec. 16, 2009. His family donated his organs, and has since promoted the causes of organ and blood donation to remember him.
