Sheriff’s office in metro Seattle says it’s pretty much not enforcing traffic laws
Pierce County sites just south of downtown Seattle, Washington. There, the sheriff’s office just openly acknowledged what many drivers have already figured out. These days, traffic laws aren’t really being enforced.
The warning came during a roundtable on road safety where county leaders were told that enforcement has dwindled to almost nothing because of deep staffing shortages.
Sgt. Shaun Darby, who heads the sheriff’s traffic unit, explained that the Seattle-area department shrank to just seven deputies
That unit once had 18.
Most of those still on duty are tied up with crash investigations instead of pulling over reckless drivers. Darby said drivers know enforcement is scarce and take full advantage, speeding freely through unincorporated stretches of Pierce County.
The results have been severe
County data shows nearly double the number of fatal or serious crashes in 2023 compared to 2018.
Darby said he expects it to keep getting worse as the agency loses more staff. The department has dozens of vacancies for sworn deputies, KOMO News shared.
Low pay compared to nearby cities is driving the problem
Darby, who also heads the deputy sheriff’s guild, reported that in just one month five experienced officers left for Tacoma, with more likely to follow.
He projected that by early 2026, Pierce County deputies will be making about 30% less than their Tacoma counterparts at entry level.
County Executive Ryan Mello responded that his office is already offering competitive pay when compared to other Washington counties such as Snohomish, Spokane, and Clark.
He acknowledged Tacoma pays more but said the city has greater revenue, while Pierce County has a more spread-out population to serve near Seattle…with less funding.
Negotiations between the county and the guild have dragged on for over a year
Deputies already voted nearly unanimously to reject a proposed 10% raise spread across three years, and arbitration now looks likely.
Until the pay fight is resolved, southern metro Seattle residents can expect even fewer deputies patrolling the roads. And more drivers testing just how far they can push it.
