Washington state troopers have a regular practice of asking individuals arrested for DUI where they have been drinking. Once they find out, they enter that information into a database and track which establishments are most frequently reported.

Businesses do not really want to get on the list. And although the DUI list is inadmissible for use in court-since it relies the DUI suspect's words-it is bad PR, invites police more police oversight, and potentially hurts business.

Washington state patrol recently said that the bar most frequently reported so far this year that J.R. Phinickey's Steakhouse in Marysville is the top contender on the list. Second on the list is Tulalip Resort Casino, then Yella Beak Salooon, Jet Bar and Grill, Susie's, Snoqualmie Casino, Lady Luck's in Tacoma, and O'Finnigans.

Phinickey's owner said about the announcement, "We're not attempting to overserve people. We're not attempting to put people out on the street drunk and impaired. We are not trying to do that." The owner of O'Finnigans said his establishment has made the list before and is attempting to change its business practices to get off the list. One of the measures taken up has been to call more cabs in than in previous years.

The DUI list is, according to sources, one tool among others troopers use in attempting to stop overserving and other dangerous trends. Troopers make no bones about the fact that they engage in increase surveillance of bars and establishments who make the list.

Ultimately, the goal is making the roads more safe by making sure everybody does what they can to prevent the problem.

Source: komonews.com, "WSP: Marysville steakhouse tops state DUI list," Joel Moreno, 13 May 2011.