Why ruin a good time with a drunk driving arrest? Save time, money and possibly a life by designating a sober driver this New Year's Eve, otherwise you could find yourself starting 2010 in jail.
More than 500 officers in 30 Michigan counties will work nearly 3,000 hours of stepped up drunk driving enforcement during the final week of the Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. enforcement campaign through Jan. 3.
The holiday effort began Dec. 23 and is being paid for in federal traffic safety funds. The New Year's holiday was selected for enforcement because of a high instance of crashes. During last year's four-day holiday period, 15 people were killed in traffic crashes, more than any other holiday of the year. One of those fatalities involved alcohol.
"Officers will be on the lookout for drunk drivers on New Year's Eve and through the weekend. This message is a warning to party-goers, if you drive drunk you will be arrested," said Office of Highway Safety Planning Director Michael L. Prince. "Avoid the hassle of a drunk driving arrest by designating a sober driver, taking a cab or spending the night."
Christmas may be over, but it's not too late to give the gift of a safe ride home with a free e-card good for a sober ride home at www.alivefortheholidays.com.
Those who do not heed the warnings and drive drunk could face serious consequences including up to 93 days in jail, up to a $500 fine, up to 360 hours of community service, 180 days license suspension, and six points on a driver's license. In addition, they will be subject to a $1,000 fee for two consecutive years, for a total of $2,000 in additional costs. Anyone who refuses a breath test the first time is given an automatic one-year driver's license suspension.
Officers will be on patrol in Allegan, Barry, Bay, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Chippewa, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Houghton, Ingham, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Marquette, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne and Wexford counties.
In spite of progress made in reducing drunk driving in Michigan, nearly 37 percent of traffic fatalities involve alcohol and/or drugs.
A list of participating grant-funded law enforcement agencies can be found at www.michigan.gov/ohsp.
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