Annual sheriff's report released

The Mason County Sheriff’s Office released its annual report for 2020.

According to the report, the traffic enforcement division made 5,370 traffic stops and contacts compared to 5,458 in 2019. There were more citations issued in 2020, with 649 compared to 646 in 2019. DUI arrests were down in 2020 to 16 compared to 23 in 2019.

Mason County Sheriff’s Office Chief Ryan Spurling attributes the 2020 traffic numbers to COVID-19.

There was a decrease in collision investigations, property damage and injury from traffic incidents in 2019 but there were more fatalities in 2020.

““After the shutdowns,...